Former Pakistani cricketer criticizes ICC for 'biased' pitch ratings
Photo: ICC/AFP
Former Pakistan cricketer and renowned spinner Saeed Ajmal has shed light on the development of spinners and their performance in international cricket.
In an exclusive interview with a local sports platform, Ajmal, famous for his mastery over spin bowling, pointed out that most successful spinners tend to be over the age of 30, as that’s when they truly mature and reach their peak.
“Spinners are typically played after 30 when they’ve lost some of their initial edge. A spinner starts to mature after 25, but it’s after 30 that they truly understand their skills and begin performing at their best," Ajmal explained.
He further emphasized that spinners need experience, particularly in first-class cricket, to learn the tricks of bowling with a red ball.
"After starting in your early 20s and spending about five years in first-class cricket, you begin to understand how to deceive batsmen with variations. White-ball cricket can be unpredictable, but red-ball cricket demands skill and cunning to take wickets," he said.
The off-spinner was vocal in his criticism of the International Cricket Council (ICC) for what he perceives as bias in pitch rating standards.
He argued that Pakistan's pitches are often customized for visiting teams, giving them an advantage, but when Pakistan benefits from favorable conditions, the ICC raises concerns.
"Pakistan's pitches are tailored to visiting teams, giving them an advantage. we win when we choose the pitch. yet, the ICC only raises issues when we play on spin or flat tracks, but not when teams face similar conditions in India, Australia, or England," he concluded.
It is worth noting that the ongoing three-match Test series between Pakistan and England has seen contrasting fortunes for both teams.
The Three Lions started strong with a commanding victory by an innings and 47 runs in Multan. However, the home side responded emphatically in the second Test, clinching victory by 152 runs to level the series. The ongoing clash in Rawalpindi promises to be a thrilling conclusion to this competitive series.