Junaid Khan recovers from knee injury

Junaid Khan, the Pakistan fast bowler, has said he has recovered from the knee injury that kept him out of the Asia Cup. Junaid said that injuries are part of a bowler's life and insisted that he has a lengthy career ahead of him.

"Injuries do come and players recover from them," Junaid told ESPNcricinfo. "Bowlers have had various injuries at regular intervals in their careers but recovered to play years of cricket.

"I understand I am at the beginning of my career but injuries can happen at any time. I have a lengthy career ahead of me. I am getting motivation from former Pakistan bowlers and nothing is serious. The most important thing is that I am still on my feet after the injury and ready to play again. "

Junaid sustained a fracture of the patella (knee cap) during the Twenty20 leg of Pakistan's series against England in UAE in February and has been out of action since then. Junaid, 22, debuted for Pakistan in April 2011 but his fledgling career has been hurt by injuries in the last few months. Junaid was selected for the England series after he had recovered from the abdominal tear he picked during the ODI series against Sri Lanka last year, which ruled him out for six weeks.

Junaid is all set to return to English county side Lancashire in June though he is yet to obtain a no-objection certificate from the PCB. The board is assessing his fitness and is likely to release the bowler for a short period to manage his workload and make sure he remains in the best shape to play when Pakistan need him.

Pakistan's next international assignment is to play a full series in Sri Lanka followed by the 'home' series against Australia, also to be played in Sri Lanka, before featuring in the ICC World Twenty20.

Apart from his promising International career, Junaid excelled on county debut in last year's Friends Life t20, taking 12 wickets in eight games for Lancashire at an economy-rate of 6.00.

"Junaid showed last season his ability to win a game from almost any situation," Peter Moores, the Lancashire head coach, said. "His strength at bowling in Powerplays and at the end of the innings in one-day cricket adds another dimension to the squad and it will be great to have him back."