Pakistan has a history of producing menacing fast bowlers. Right from the Imran Khan era, which saw the emergence of Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis, to 1997, when a young Shoaib Akhtar burst on to the scene. In 2010, a young Mohammad Amir made heads turn while Shaheen Afridi is ruling the roost in the modern era. There has never been a shortage of quality pacers in Pakistan; however, at the same time, many promising talents came and vanished. Mohammad Asif was a 'talent wasted, as Wasim Akram recently pointed out and Amir's career was shortened and marred with controversy. Umar Gul could have been so much more, as could Abdul Razzaq.
Another bowler whose career was filled with 'what ifs' was Junaid Khan. The left-arm quick made his Pakistan debut in 2011 and would go on to play 107 internationals across the next eight years. In ODIs, Junaid's best of 4/12 came against India at Chennai in 2012 when he ran through India's top order, dismissing the Virender Sehwag, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh and Rohit Sharma.
A video of his performance was shared by a Twitter user, which was reshared by Junaid himself, calling it the turning point of his career. "I think this was my career's turning point. What do you think?" Junaid tweeted. Users on Twitter however had mixed reactions to it. Some called it one of the best opening spells, while others questioned Junaid about his lack of performances thereafter.
In the second ODI, Junaid bowled another brilliant spell, dismissing Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. A year later in 2013, Junaid bowled a fine last over for Pakistan against South Africa. Bowling with an injured shin, Junaid defended nine runs off the last over, helping his team by a narrow margin of one run in a last-ball thriller.
{{/usCountry}}In the second ODI, Junaid bowled another brilliant spell, dismissing Kohli and Gautam Gambhir. A year later in 2013, Junaid bowled a fine last over for Pakistan against South Africa. Bowling with an injured shin, Junaid defended nine runs off the last over, helping his team by a narrow margin of one run in a last-ball thriller.
{{/usCountry}}It was Pakistan's first-ever bilateral series win in South Africa, but unfortunately, fitness issues sidelined Junaid from the international set-up. After making on and off sporadic appearances, Junaid was named in Pakistan’s 2019 World Cup squad but was later dropped from it. He finally made a much-awaited comeback later in the same year but was dropped again soon after.