Pacer Junaid to know his fate on Friday

Promising left-arm pacer Junaid Khan will know on Friday whether he will be part of Pakistan Test squad for the England series.

Lahore: Promising left-arm pacer Junaid Khan will know on Friday whether he will be part of Pakistan Test squad for the series against England in Dubai and Abu Dhabi.

The 22-year old is scheduled to undergo a full-fledged fitness test at the national cricket academy before the selectors and national team management take a decision on his participation in the coming Test series. "He has made good progress and recovery from his partial abdominal muscle tear but we will know on the 6th when he gives the fitness test whether he has made a full recovery," one selector said. Junaid partially tore an abdominal muscle during the one-day series against Sri Lanka in the UAE in November and had to return home for treatment. The selectors have named him in the Test squad for the coming series but his selection is conditional to him passing the fitness test. Pakistan have already included left-arm pacer Wahab Riaz in the squad which has five fast bowlers including Junaid. "The reason for naming five pacers was to cover if Junaid does not pass the fitness test," the selector said. Junaid is training at the national cricket academy under the supervision of national team bowling coach Aaqib Javed, who has been impressed with the youngsters pace and variation and ability to swing the ball late. A source in the board said if the selectors and team management agreed there were chances Junaid might be asked to play in the side matches against England to prove his match fitness if any doubts remain after his test on Friday. PTI