Pak pacer Junaid Khan furious over rumours of England switch

Left-arm pacer Junaid Khan on Wednesday shrugged off rumours about him considering options regarding switching to England cricket team after being repeatedly ignored by Pakistan selectors.

The reports stated that Junaid is looking to permanently settle in England and gradually represent The Three Lions in international cricket.

The left-arm pacer admitted that he was immensely disappointed for not being selected for Pakistan's upcoming England tour.

He, however, expressed disappointment over reports of being associated with him that he is considering a move to England and play for their national team.

"There is no truth in any such claim," he said.

Junaid said his in-laws are mostly living in England and since he was not selected for the national Test Squad, he was considering options to play county cricket there.

He revealed that Lancashire were interested in signing him again but he didn’t take the contract because he was confident that his name would be included in the Test squad touring England.

"I don’t know what else I will have to do to make a comeback in the national side, as I have already performed well in the PSL and Pakistan A team," he told the Dawn.

With 71 Test wickets to his name, Junaid is the highest wicket-taker in Pakistan’s current crop of fast-bowlers but was repeatedly snubbed by the Inzamamul Haq-led selection committee, with the former Pakistan skipper saying Junaid has struggled to find rhythm since he sustained a knee injury last year.

Replying to this Junaid claimed that he was 'fully fit and focused'.

"Where else do I prove my fitness and rhythm,” Junaid said referring to recent boot-camp training for Pakistan cricketers. 

IMAGE: Pakistan pacer Junaid Khan.

Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters