If a bowler complains about flat pitches, he should quit Test cricket: Saeed Ajmal

Former Pakistan cricketer Saeed Ajmal has strongly stated that any bowler who complains about flat pitches should quit playing Test match cricket. Adding that a spinner needs to have the proper temperament to scalp wickets, Ajmal said that a bowler should play mind games with the batter and then execute the plan that he has in place.

Ajmal also added that there is no point in a spinner looking at the pitch and then bowling. The 44-year-old also added that a spinner should adapt himself to all conditions that he encounters in Test match cricket.

“To take wickets, you need temperament. You need to bowl a good 8-10 overs to play mind games with the batsmen and then you will be able to execute your plan. If you want to complain about ‘flat pitches’ then you should quit cricket. If the spinner is going to look at the pitch and then bowl, what is the point of being a spinner then? Spinners need to learn to perform in all conditions,” said Ajmal according to Cricket Pakistan.

Even when we were playing in the UAE, we had to spin the ball: Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal also added that the assumption that Pakistan always had spin-friendly wickets is not true. The right-arm off-spinner stated that even when the spinners were playing in the UAE, they had to spin the red cherry. “The notion that Pakistan always had spin wickets was never the case. Even when we were playing in the UAE, we had to spin the ball and it did not just magically happen,” added Ajmal.

Ajmal also said that Babar Azam is a once-in-a-generation talent like Indian batting legend Virat Kohli. Ajmal concluded by stating that Mohammad Rizwan has performed in every format and is the most improved cricketer in world cricket at the moment.

“Previously, it was Virat Kohli and now it is Babar Azam. These are generational players and you will not come across them all the time. Mohammad Rizwan is the most improved cricketer in the world; he has played and performed in every format in which he has played. He has registered immense performances,” concluded Ajmal.