Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Junaid Khan has revealed that legendary left-arm seamer Wasim Akram was his idol growing up.

Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis formed one of the most formidable bowling partnerships in cricket history and tormented opposition batsmen for years.

Wasim Akram
Wasim Akram. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

Junaid Khan Names Wasim Akram As His Idol

Wasim Akram featured in 104 Tests and took 414 wickets averaging 23.62. He is also the second-highest wicket-taker in ODI history as he claimed 502 wickets in 356 matches at an average of 23.52.

Junaid Khan
Junaid Khan (Credits: Getty)

“Wasim Akram, he’s my idol,” the 31-year-old said on Twitter.

Wasim Akram is second only to Sri Lankan off-spin bowler Muttiah Muralitharan in terms of ODI wickets, with 502 in total. Wasim Akram is currently the highest wicket taker for Pakistan in Tests with 414 wickets.

Following the recurrence of a knee injury to pacer Sohail Tanvir, the uncapped Junaid Khan was added in Pakistan’s squad for the 2011 World Cup. He did not play a single match in the tournament and waited till April 2011 for his ODI debut. Junaid Khan played 22 Tests, 76 ODIs and 9 T20Is where he has 71, 110 and 8 wickets respectively.

He last played Test in 2014, T20I in 2014 and ODI in 2019 after debuting in 2011. He was also named as part of the ‘Team of the Tournament’ at the 2017 Champions Trophy by the ICC and Cricbuzz. In April 2019, he was named in Pakistan’s squad for the 2019 Cricket World Cup but on 20 May 2019, he was dropped from Pakistan’s squad, after they announced their final team for the tournament.

Junaid Khan Prefers Shaheen Shah Afridi And Said Pakistan Fought Well In 1st Test Against New Zealand

Junaid Khan admitted that he prefers fellow Pakistan left-arm seamer Shaheen Shah Afridi over India speedster Jasprit Bumrah. Junaid Khan was asked to choose between the duo, who are among the top bowlers in the world right now, during a question and answer session on Twitter.

Faheem Ashraf Faheem Ashraf (Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

The 31-year-old pacer said Pakistan fought well in 1st Test against New Zealand and praised performances of Mohammad Rizwan who scored vital fifties in both innings and Faheem Ashraf who scored 91 in 1st innings and Fawad Alam who scored a ton in a lost cause as Pakistan lost the Test by 101 runs. Fawad Alam who made a comeback after about 10 years scored his second ton and his first after debut Test.