I'm not a spent force: Saeed Ajmal

The spinner, who has been performing poorly ever since his action was changed, hopes to catch selectors eye in T20

Saeed Ajmal was Pakistan’s top spinner and leading wicket-taker in all three formats between 2009 and 2014, taking 178 Test, 184 ODI and 85 T20 international wickets. All this, though, was before his action got reported in Sri Lanka in September last year.

Recently Saeed Ajmal spoke about his early departure from Worcestershire, saying that contrary to media reports, his parting from the county team is not premature.

“There was no sacking or early termination of my contract as some media is reporting," said Ajmal while speaking to PakPassion.net.

"My contract with Worcestershire is until 4th September as I will be leaving for Hajj the day after I return to Pakistan next week.

"Worcestershire had wanted me to play for them for the whole season but I had decided and agreed with Worcestershire prior to signing the contract this season that I wouldn't be able to play the whole season and would return to Pakistan prior to the end of the season.”

Despite performing below par in the last few months, Ajmal maintains a positive outlook.

"The last few months have been a tough and difficult phase of my cricketing career but I'm feeling positive and I've given my 100% effort to Worcestershire as I always have and hope that I will get the opportunity to play for them in future. They are a fantastic club and it's always an honour to play for them," said Ajmal.

Ajmal also spoke about his desire to bowl for Pakistan once again and in a bid to be noticed by the national selectors the spinner will be participating in the National Twenty20 Championship next month.

"I’m looking forward to playing again in the upcoming domestic cricket season in Pakistan. I'm ready to take on the challenge of regaining my place in the Pakistan team. I'm confident that I can perform well again in domestic cricket in Pakistan and make a comeback for my country and prove my critics wrong.

"It would be great to play for Pakistan again as international cricket is the pinnacle for any cricketer. I feel that I'm not a spent force when it comes to international cricket and as a bowler I still have something to offer my country," added Ajmal.

Despite Ajmal’s optimism reliable sources revealed that at the moment Ajmal is not being considered by the team management for the series against England and nor for the one against India in the UAE.

"Despite his fantastic record on UAE pitches Ajmal is no longer the force he used to be after he changed his bowling action. He doesn't seem to have that killer instinct that brought him so many wickets in all three formats," said one source close to the selectors, quoted Press Trust of India.

Moreover, even though the bowler believes he can contribute more to Pakistan cricket the source close to the selectors added that it looked like Ajmal’s international career had reached its end.

"It will be very hard for him to now fight his way back into the team specially after the spectacular success that Yasir Shah has enjoyed while the selectors have now decided to give the task of bowling more overs to Shoaib Malik in ODIs and T20 cricket," he said.

Chief selector Haroon Rasheed said that Ajmal’s performances will be monitored and that the bowler will be called to the National Cricket Academy for observation when head coach Waqar Younis returned from Australia next month.

"Right now, we are keeping an eye on his bowling figures in England," he added.