Rashid urges PCB to include Afghanistan in domestics T20 event

Afghanistan cricket team coach Rashid Latif has urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to include Afghanistan team in the forthcoming PCB domestic Twenty20 event. Talking to German radio Deutsche Welle here the other day, Rashid, who is also former Pakistan captain, thanked the PCB for inviting Afghanistan for three one-day matches which concluded against Pakistan A this weekend. 

“It was a good tour for both Pakistan and Afghanistan as we were the first foreign team touring Pakistan in two years. And at the same time Afghanistan cricketers learnt a lot from this trip because Pakistan A’s strength was equal to their national team. I am thankful to the PCB for arranging our first official tour and this trend should continue now. It will be better that the PCB allows at least one team from Afghanistan’s Kabul region in their Twenty20 Championship. It will bring more colour to Pakistan’ most popular cricket tournament,” Rashid added.

The PCB is going to hold the 8-team T20 competition later this month at the Iqbal Stadium in Faisalabad. Although Afghanistan have got the one-day international status after finishing fifth in the World Cup qualifying round, still no Test playing team have played a single ODI against them. 

But this does not bother Rashid at all. According to Rashid, who played 37 Tests and 166 one-day internationals for Pakistan, Afghanistan Cricket Board should arrange series against associate countries like Ireland, Scotland, Holland and Kenya. “If we perform well against those nations then definitely big cricketing nations will be willing to play T20 internationals against us. We should be focusing on this rather playing one-day matches against full members of the ICC at the moment,” he said.

The ICC Intercontinental Tournament is Afghanistan’s next assignment. About defending the Intercontinental title, Rashid said that players’ development was his priority at the moment. “I am working more on players development this time,” he said.

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'Delighted at joining Wasim's former county'

Itching for county experience, Junaid Khan hasalready started the countdown to his stint with Lancashire as he awaits his UK visa.

Lancashire recently signed 21-year old Junaid for their Friends Life Twenty20 campaign after the fast-bowler’s impressive performance in Pakistan’s recent sweep against Ireland in the two-match One-Day International (ODI) series. The county was previously led by Pakistan great Wasim Akram and Junaid is looking forward to playing for the same team.

In his heyday, Akram spent 11 seasons with the side and now young- blood Junaid is counting much on his county appearance in a bid to follow the footsteps of the legendary fast bowler.

“I’m extremely delighted at joining Lancashire,” Junaid told The Express Tribune. “It’s a great honour for me to play for the same side that the great Akram has also played with.

“I always wanted to emulate Akram and my contract is a huge boost to my career,” said Junaid.

“I’m only awaiting the UK visa and will not waste a single day to join the side.”

Valuable experience

Still in the initial stages of his international career, Junaid hopes that county exposure will help polish his skills.

“Nearly all great cricketers have played county cricket and I’m also hoping to get valuable experience.

“It’s the start of my career and I aim to work on my weaknesses during the county exposure,” said Junaid who has played seven ODIs for Pakistan.

Oozing with confidence

Meanwhile, the left-arm pacer said he was confident of doing well due to favourable conditions for seamers.

“The English conditions favour fast-bowlers and keeping that in mind, hopefully I’ll be able to give my best.

“My strength is seam bowling. There’s all for a bowler like me in English conditions. This is what happened against Ireland as well – where conditions suited me and I performed well.”

Junaid, however, remains concerned about his show at dead pitches like the one he faced in the West Indies where he struggled in both the ODI and Test series.

“I faced problems in the West Indies where there was a little or no support for seamers. I’m working hard and trying to be productive on such tracks,” he said while lauding former bowler and assistant coach Aaqib Javed for his assistance.