Saeed Ajmal feels like starting his career again

Pakistani off-spinner, Saeed Ajmal had been banned for the suspect and illegal bowling action in September 2014, but he remodeled his action later in February 2015 in a bid to make a comeback into the Pakistan national side.

He made his way back into the team but failed to have the same impact as before. He was a genuine wicket taking bowler in his earlier days, but with the remodeled action, he found it hard to fill up the wickets column. “It feels like I’m starting my career again. Honestly, it’s felt like I was back at school learning how to bowl again,” Ajmal was quoted by pakpassion.net.

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“I’ve had to redevelop my bowling and re-invent myself as a cricketer. It’s been a long, tough road but I’m happy with where I am at the moment and I’m pleased with my form,” he added.

He criticized modern-day cricket and said that the fast bowlers have been given two bouncers, whereas there are no concessions for the spinners. “Modern day cricket has become a game that has been designed for batsmen. Spinners are penalized for their bowling actions but look at the size of cricket bats these days, they are like tree trunks. Also, look at the power-play rules and the relevant field settings.” said Ajmal. “Fast bowlers have been given two bouncers an over, but what concessions have the spinners been given? I’ll tell you what they’ve been given – nothing apart from more suspicion and scrutiny. The art of off-spin is dying [and] the number of off-spinners around the world is dwindling,”

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Ajmal welcomed their new coach Mickey Arthur and said that he would be the right person to bring the much-needed discipline in the Pakistan camp.

“Discipline is a must. There must be no compromise when it comes to discipline in Pakistan cricket and this is perhaps an area where we have let ourselves down in the past,” said Ajmal. “Some of our boys have lacked discipline on and off the field and this has meant that they have underachieved so far in their careers.  Those boys need to take a look at themselves and think about what they want to achieve from cricket before it’s too late for them. There is no point having talent if you have no discipline. Some Pakistan player’s need someone behind them with a stick to get them to work and hopefully Mickey Arthur is that man,” he concluded.