Junaid Zia (born 11 December 1983) is a Pakistani former cricketer. Zia was a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler. He was born in Lahore, Punjab, and is the son of former Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Tauqir Zia.[1][2]

Junaid Zia
Personal information
Full name
Junaid Zia
Born (1983-12-11) 11 December 1983 (age 42)
Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan
BattingRight-handed
BowlingRight-arm medium-fast
RoleBowler
RelationsTauqir Zia (father)
Domestic team information
YearsTeam
2000/01–2003/04Rawalpindi Rams
2003/04–2006/07Pakistan Customs
2004/05–2013/14Lahore Eagles
2007/08–2009/10Lahore Ravi
2008/09–2014/15Lahore Lions
2010/11–2013/14Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited
Career statistics
Competition First-class List A Twenty20
Matches 90 109 35
Runs scored 2,379 1,005 171
Batting average 19.99 15.22 9.00
100s/50s 1/8 0/4 0/0
Top score 100 59* 35*
Balls bowled 14,992 4,843 663
Wickets 282 147 41
Bowling average 29.80 29.35 20.92
5 wickets in innings 12 1 1
10 wickets in match 1
Best bowling 7/7 5/53 5/31
Catches/stumpings 25/– 29/– 8/–
Source: Cricinfo, 17 April 2026

Zia represented Pakistan Under-19s at the 2002 Under-19 Cricket World Cup before making his One Day International debut for Pakistan against Bangladesh at Multan in September 2003.[3][4] He later played domestic cricket for Rawalpindi Rams, Pakistan Customs, Lahore Eagles, Lahore Ravi, Lahore Lions, Habib Bank Limited, Punjab and Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited.[1] In January 2008, he was recalled to Pakistan's ODI squad for the home series against Zimbabwe after taking 46 wickets in ten Quaid-e-Azam Trophy matches.[3]

One of Zia's most notable bowling performances came in January 2004, when playing for Pakistan Customs against Bangladesh A in the Patrons Trophy, he took 7 wickets for 7 runs in the second innings as Bangladesh A were bowled out for 30 and Pakistan Customs won by an innings and 41 runs.[5][6] Earlier in his career, he had also taken 6 for 19 in a domestic first-class match against Pakistan Navy.[7]

Playing for Lahore Ravi in the 2007–08 Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, Zia took 6 for 34 against Pakistan Customs in November 2007 to put his side in a commanding position on the opening day.[8] The following month he took 6 for 30 against Sialkot, again for Lahore Ravi, as Sialkot were dismissed cheaply on the first day.[9] In December 2009, he returned 6 for 48 against Islamabad and helped Lahore Ravi complete a ten-wicket victory.[10][11]

Zia's only first-class century came in November 2010 for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited against Islamabad, when he made 100 from 89 balls after coming in at number nine.[12][13]

In addition to his first-class record, Zia finished with one five-wicket haul in List A cricket, with career-best figures of 5 for 53, and one five-wicket haul in Twenty20 cricket.[1] His Twenty20 five-for came in December 2013, when he took 5 for 31 for Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited against United Bank Limited in the semi-final of the Faysal Bank T-20 Cup.[14][15] By the end of his career, he had taken 282 wickets in 90 first-class matches, including 12 five-wicket hauls and one ten-wicket match, alongside 147 wickets in List A cricket and 41 in Twenty20 cricket.[1]

In December 2019, the Pakistan Cricket Board appointed Zia as General Manager – Domestic Cricket Operations.[16][17]

References

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  1. 1 2 3 4 "Junaid Zia". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  2. "Junaid Zia". Pakistan Cricket Board. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  3. 1 2 "Junaid Zia player profile". Cricket Pakistan. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  4. "Pakistan v Bangladesh, 1st ODI, Bangladesh tour of Pakistan 2003". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  5. "Junaid's demonic spell too hot for Bangladesh 'A'". Dawn. 14 January 2004. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  6. "Pakistan Customs v Bangladesh A, Pool A, Patrons Trophy 2003/04". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  7. "Bowlers dominate first day". ESPNcricinfo. 3 October 2003. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  8. "Razzaq, Khalil skittle out Islamabad for 95". ESPNcricinfo. 8 November 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  9. "Sohail grabs seven as WAPDA seize advantage". ESPNcricinfo. 15 December 2007. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  10. "Lahore Ravi v Islamabad, Group B, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy 2009/10". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  11. "National Bank finish season on a high". ESPNcricinfo. 18 December 2009. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  12. "Rawalpindi, ZTBL reach winning positions". ESPNcricinfo. 13 November 2010. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  13. "Islamabad v Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, Quaid-e-Azam Trophy Division One 2010/11". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  14. "Zia, Hameed take ZTBL to final". ESPNcricinfo. 2 December 2013. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  15. "United Bank Limited v Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited, 2nd Semi-Final, Faysal Bank T-20 Cup for Departments 2013/14". ESPNcricinfo. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  16. "Junaid Zia appointed General Manager – Domestic Cricket". Pakistan Cricket Board. 5 December 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
  17. "جنید ضیاء جنرل منیجر ڈومیسٹک کرکٹ مقرر". Jang (in Urdu). 6 December 2019. Retrieved 17 April 2026.
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