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Junaid Khan (Image Credit : Twitter)
Indian fans might remember former Pakistan left-arm pacer Junaid Khan. The pacer had wreaked havoc during his debut series in India in 2012. In the first game of the three-match ODI series, he took three wickets at the top and derailed the hosts' batting. For the unversed, the game was played in Chennai on December 30, 2012.
Talking about the game, it started an hour late due to rain. Pakistan won the toss and elected to field first in the overcast conditions. Khan cleaned up Virender Sehwag with an inswing delivery and announced himself in world cricket. The left-arm pacer then cleaned up the likes of Virat Kohli and Yuvraj to leave the Men in Blue tottering at 20/4. He completed his four-wicket haul by picking Rohit Sharma's wicket leaving India on 29/5.
Nine and a half years after the performance, one Twitter user uploaded the highlights of the spell. However, the video is now taken down due to a copyright violation. Till the time it was on the micro-blogging site, the former Pakistan player commented saying 'I think this was my career turning point. what do you think?'. The fans were divided after his reply.
I think this was my career turning point. what do you think? https://t.co/jwJCY50loo
— Junaid khan 83 (@JunaidkhanREAL) June 28, 2022
Some fans believe that he wasn't treated well by the Pakistan Cricket Board while some believe that his fitness issue led to a halt to his playing career. Talking about his playing career, the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-born player has played 22 Tests, 78 ODIs, and nine T20Is. He was part of the 2017 Champions Trophy team which beat India in the final. Notably, the 32-year-old wasn't part of the playing XI in the league game against their arch-rivals. However, an injury to Wahab Riaz meant that he played all the remaining games. Currently, he isn't part of the team across formats as he played his last international game in 2019.
This is how Twitter reacted
Yeah we are so sorry. What they did with you.
— Hamza (@Hamzaabbasabdi) June 28, 2022
This was a brilliant spell. But with all due respect, you never bowled with such pace and hunger ever again. Probably it was your fitness, or perhaps the conditions in Chennai were more helpful, but we never saw the same movement in your bowling again even in helpful conditions.
— Saifullah Khan (@S_Khan91) June 28, 2022
Yes but what happened after that?
— Waseem Abbasi (@Wabbasi007) June 28, 2022
Yeah we are so sorry. What they did with you.
— Hamza (@Hamzaabbasabdi) June 28, 2022
Zabardast series de ow MashaAllah… unfortunately you weren’t properly dealt by the PCB, this is what I think at least
— Muhammad Shah (@MShahNSRPK) June 28, 2022
I wished you could have played more injury Rythem just made us lost a great bowler in the making specially that 2015 injury just before the world cup
— Shahzaib (@Shahzoo_khi) June 28, 2022
Need you back in team again 😘
— Muhammad Junaid (@Muhamma09632089) June 28, 2022
App bht mahnti bowler hen ap ko pata nae kis ki nazar lage ab aise bowling nazar nae ate
— IMTIAZ KHAN NIAZI (@imtiazniaZi922) June 28, 2022
Bilkul deeeer khkule bowling de kre ow ao Allah de oke che wapas team join ke zar tar zara
— Aamir Sohail Tanha (@AamirSohailTan2) June 28, 2022
Junaid bhai, you were, you are and you will be a great bowler no matter you are in the team or not
— Malik Hassan (@MalikHassaan2) June 28, 2022