Junaid Khan’s absence hurt Pakistan in the last two Tests – Sohail Tanvir

Sohail Tanvir, the left-arm medium-fast bowler from Pakistan, believes that the result of the second Test of the recently-concluded three-match series between South Africa and Pakistan would have been different, if Junaid Khan was playing.

The Green Shirts were humiliated in the series by the Proteas who won all the three Test matches and proved their class, being the number one ranked Test team of the world.

Misbah-ul-Haq and company are under immense criticism by some of the former cricketers and sporting pundits, who believe that Pakistan should have done better in the Test series. There are many who are even asking the PCB to sack Misbah from national captaincy.

However, while speaking to Pakpassion, Tanvir expressed that the cricket fans should be patient and they must remember that Pakistan lost to the world’s best Test side.

The left-armer mentioned, “I don’t think we should criticise anyone so quickly, international cricket is not easy, especially when you are playing against the world’s number one team.”

Pakistan came so close to winning the Cape Town Test as they dominated most part of the fixture; however, some loose bowling and a poor batting display in the second innings cost them the match by four wickets.

Unfortunately, Pakistan’s premier fast bowler in Test cricket, Junaid Khan, injured his thigh and could not play the last two matches.

The Cricketer from Rawalpindi thinks that Junaid is a wonderful talent, having the ability to move the ball both ways. If the left-arm fast bowler was playing the Cape Town Test, Tanvir thinks that he would have helped Pakistan square the series.

“They’re all new and in the learning process. I think it cost Pakistan a lot when Junaid Khan became unfit as he was the perfect bowler for those conditions. He has the ability to swing the ball both ways, and here you need a swing bowler more than a pace bowler,” said the discarded cricketer. “Had Junaid been fit, perhaps the result of the 2nd Test would have been different as he could have supported Saeed Ajmal from one end.”

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Posted by Yasir Hashmi on Mar 2 2013. Filed under Sports. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.