Will it be Junaid Khan this time?

Junaid Khan, a promising left arm seamer from Khyber Pakhtoonkhwa, has been included in Pakistan's World Cup squad in place of Sohail Tanvir who has failed to regain fitness from a chronic knee injury. Despite being included for the tour to New Zealand, Sohail could not hold on to his position in Pakistan team and his future now looks bleak as far as international cricket is concerned.

Junaid Khan is a 21-year old rookie who represents Abbottabad region in Pakistan's domestic competition. He, incidentally, rose to the limelight at the same time when Mohammad Amir burst on the scene when they both played and impressed for Pakistan under-19 team. Amir leapfrogged Junaid and represented Pakistan at the highest level. Amir after shining like a North Star for Pakistan, got wiped out of the scene unceremoniously when ICC's tribunal handed him 5 years ban alongside Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt for their involvement in spot-fixing. This created a big hole in the pace armory of Pakistan which, despite having honest servers like Umar Gul, Tanvir Ahmad and Wahab Riaz, could not be filled. Shoaib Akhtar has lost his aura while Sohail Tanvir is not fit so Pakistan selectors decided, at last, to introduce new face in a hope that it provides much needed 'Pakistan feeling' to the pace attack.

Junaid Khan has pace and can swing the ball both ways, both new as well as the old ball. He has a good yorker and also bowls a slower on. Time is too short for him to ease into the Pakistan set up but if used properly in the warm-up games, he can feel at home in competition itself. especially under coach Waqar Younis. He needs to be given confidence by the team management especially captain Afridi who often gets impatient with bowlers. If used properly and aggressively he may help Pakistan forget Amir very soon.

We introduced Sohail Tanvir in 2007 World T20, Mohammad Amir in 2009 World T20 and now will it be Junaid Khan to become new sensation? Time will tell.