I Learned How To Handle Pressure During The 2012 Series Against India In India: Junaid Khan

Pakistan left-arm seamer Junaid Khan has delivered credible performances against India whenever he has got an opportunity. Junaid Khan, who played an integral role in Pakistan’s Champions Trophy victory in 2017 and their ODI series win in 2012, bounced out some of the best batsmen during those fixtures. The 31-year old opines that an India-Pakistan encounter is one of the high-pressure games in world cricket.

Junaid Khan was the joint-highest wicket-taker in the ODI series when Pakistan toured India for three ODIs and as many T20Is in 2012. The left-arm seamer collected eight wickets in three ODIs at 12.37. Khan got rid of Virat Kohli in all three ODIs and troubled the other top-order batsmen consistently. In the 2017 Champions Trophy final, he got rid of Ravindra Jadeja and partnered Mohammad Amir well with the new ball.

Junaid Khan believes that if a player wants to thrive in pressure, they need to play against India as it is high during India-Pakistan clashes. The 31-year old reveals he learned to handle pressure during their visit to India in 2012. Khan also called for the resumption of cricketing ties between India and Pakistan; however, he understands that the decision depends upon the administrators and reckons it’s unlikely to happen for the next 2-4 years.

“If a player wants to learn how to handle pressure, he should play against India. There is a lot of pressure on both teams during India-Pakistan encounters. I learned how to handle pressure during the 2012 series against India in India. Fans from both countries will enjoy these matches but the decision to play the series depends on the administrators. Cricket should happen between both countries but it doesn’t look like it will take place for the next two or four years,” Khan told Cricket Pakistan.

Junaid Khan has not played for Pakistan since May 2019:

Nevertheless, for all the promise shown by Junaid after debuting in 2011, he has not been able to carry it for a long time. Though injuries have impacted his form, he has not been able to make a mark in the limited opportunities. The 31-year old played the last of his 76 ODIs in May 2019 against England and has 110 scalps at 29.23. Khan’s last Test was way back in 2015 and he has 73 wickets in 22 matches at 31.73 with five fifers and a single four-wicket haul.

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