‘Our bowling versus their batting’
Saeed Ajmal says clash will be a contest between Pakistan's bowling prowess and India’s much hailed batting...
MOHALI:
The World Cup semi-final clash between Pakistan and India will be a contest between the former’s bowling prowess and the latter’s much hailed batting line-up, according to Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.
Ajmal, who has played just two of Pakistan’s seven matches in the World Cup, will be fighting for a berth in the playing-eleven with left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, adding that the Indian batsmen would have it “tough against Pakistan spinners.”
“We’ve got a few plans up our sleeves,” he said. “We know our bowling is our strong suit and batting is theirs. Our bowlers have been in excellent form during the World Cup and we are hopeful that it will continue in the next match.”
Meanwhile, Ajmal also emphasised on the intensity of this clash, comparing it with the Ashes series between Australia and England.
“For Australian and English players, the Ashes is a big series, and for Indian and Pakistani players, matches against your archrivals have a special meaning.”
Ajmal claimed that the Pakistan team will not be distracted by the huge crowd in Mohali.
“My philosophy is simple. It doesn’t matter where you are playing or who the opposition is — if you let the crowd or atmosphere disrupt your performance, then you don’t deserve to be playing at the highest level of cricket.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2011.
The World Cup semi-final clash between Pakistan and India will be a contest between the former’s bowling prowess and the latter’s much hailed batting line-up, according to Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal.
Ajmal, who has played just two of Pakistan’s seven matches in the World Cup, will be fighting for a berth in the playing-eleven with left-arm spinner Abdur Rehman, adding that the Indian batsmen would have it “tough against Pakistan spinners.”
“We’ve got a few plans up our sleeves,” he said. “We know our bowling is our strong suit and batting is theirs. Our bowlers have been in excellent form during the World Cup and we are hopeful that it will continue in the next match.”
Meanwhile, Ajmal also emphasised on the intensity of this clash, comparing it with the Ashes series between Australia and England.
“For Australian and English players, the Ashes is a big series, and for Indian and Pakistani players, matches against your archrivals have a special meaning.”
Ajmal claimed that the Pakistan team will not be distracted by the huge crowd in Mohali.
“My philosophy is simple. It doesn’t matter where you are playing or who the opposition is — if you let the crowd or atmosphere disrupt your performance, then you don’t deserve to be playing at the highest level of cricket.”
Published in The Express Tribune, March 29th, 2011.