Saeed Ajmal rubbishes retirement talks

Saeed Ajmal rubbishes retirement talks: Out-of-favour Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has brushed aside rumours surrounding his retirement, insisting that he is not ready to give up so early. In a tweet on Tuesday, he said that he was ‘positive’ and ‘confident’ of gradually improving his performance.

A report by the Press Trust of India on Tuesday had claimed Ajmal was “disappointed with his own form and his failure to come to grips with his modified bowling action” and was thinking about calling time on his career after a poor show in the national T20 championship. The 37-year-old was able to bag only two wickets in four matches with his new bowling action, leaking away 124 runs in the process during the National T20 Cup.

Ajmal said he was not “giving up” plans for an international comeback and would keep backing himself till he won the hearts of the national selectors.

All news speculating about my retirement r wrong.I'm very positive,confident of gradually improving performance.I don't give up.#saeedisback

— Saeed Ajmal (@REALsaeedajmal) September 15, 2015

The spin maestro was banned by the International Cricket Council for an illegal bowling action in August 2014, which led to his ouster from the national squad for the World Cup. Ajmal, who has claimed 178 Test and 184 ODI wickets, has been struggling with his remodelled bowling action and failed to cement his spot in the team since returning from suspension in February.

Chief selector Haroon Rasheed has been supportive, and willing to give Ajmal, the time to earn a national recall. “It is never easy to change your bowling action after you have bowled with it and enjoyed success for so many years. We feel for Ajmal and the problems he must be going through. But at least he is trying and like I have said the doors are still open for him if he can show us his new action has also become effective,” Rasheed was quoted as saying by PTI.