Can’t bring a magic delivery which batsmen can’t see: Saeed Ajmal

Pakistan veteran discard Saeed Ajmal was all furious at the national selectors. In a conversation with cricket.com.au, Ajmal lashed out at the national team selectors. He felt utterly disappointed at being perennially ignored from the national setup. He was banned from bowling and asked to remodel his action. However, he has played just one match after remodeling his action. Clearly, the off-spinner is disgusted.

He quoted that he has no idea what the selectors are expecting from him. He said he has been giving his 100 percent. Yet he is being ignored. He quoted, “I just don’t understand what they (the selectors) want me to do. If they don’t want to select me they should give me a straight reply. They keep telling me, ‘you need to perform in domestic cricket’.

To support his argument, he cited that he was the leading wicket-taker in the local tournament. He said he was phenomenal with the ball for Worcestershire last season. He clearly remarked, “I took 20 wickets in the T20 tournament in Multan. I was leading wicket-taker in the competition. Even in the domestic T20s in England last year (for Worcestershire) I was among the best bowlers of the tournament. I don’t know why these performances are not being considered.”

He further quoted that his fitness is not a concern either. He wishes to fill the void of an off-spinner that is currently there in the national team. The Test team has one spinner in form of leggie Yasir Shah. “I don’t have any fitness concerns either as I have played both the domestic T20 and 50-over tournaments this year. I am working very hard for a comeback. Pakistan does not have an off-spinner in the team and I feel I still have a role to play,” quoted Ajmal.

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Saeed Ajmal showed his disappointment at the fact that he has got only one match since his comeback. “I have played just one match (in T20 internationals) after remodelling my bowling action,” he said.

He again targeted the selectors. He said that he has been constantly asked to perform in domestic cricket. He feels low for the fact that despite doing what the selectors are saying, he is being ignored. He says he is doing every bit of thing that he is capable of doing. “They told me I’ve got to prove my worth in domestic cricket. My performances in domestic cricket is in front of everyone, but still I am being neglected. I cannot prove my worth by inventing a magic delivery which the batsmen can’t see. It is my performance that the selectors need to see,” said a disappointed Saeed Ajmal.

He even went on to say that the entire plot behind getting him in action remodeling was to ban him from playing again. “Every bowler who had issues with his bowling action is back in the team. It is only me who is not being selected. It looks as if the whole idea behind the drive against chucking was to ban me,” Saeed Ajmal remarked.

The news has been around about Shahid Afridi getting a farewell match. Ajmal, however, has no plans of having a farewell game. He said he is not holding talks with the PCB for a farewell match because he still wishes to play. “Neither I nor any PCB official has talked about a farewell match with me. I have not even thought about it because I still want to play,” quoted Ajmal.

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He has set his eyes on the PSL this season. He said that there is no point in playing FC cricket. He reasoned out that he has no plan to play four or five-day matches anymore. His focus is only playing limited overs cricket. “I am eager to do well in the PSL and every other domestic tournament and hopefully I will be considered for the national team. If the selectors want me to play (the) first-class season again and prove my worth by taking 100 wickets, then that’s not going to happen because I no longer intend to play four- or five-day cricket,” he conceded.