Cricket: ‘Our spinner is better than yours’
Former players back Ajmal to outshine Swann in UAE.
KARACHI:
The year’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, Saeed Ajmal, has been heavily backed by the team management and former Test cricketers to outshine England’s Graeme Swann in the upcoming Test series in the UAE.
Former Pakistan spinner and current England spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed predicted a tough competition between the duo in the series dubbed a battle for spin supremacy.
Coach Mohsin Khan voted Ajmal the best off-spinner in the business today.
“Ajmal is in good form and currently the best,” Mohsin told The Express Tribune. “I believe Ajmal is far better than Swann. However, Swann holds the advantage given England’s fielding and I hope Ajmal gets the same support. Our batsmen lack patience so that may work in Swann’s favour too.”
‘Doosra’ gives Ajmal the edge: Qasim
Meanwhile, former left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim termed both spinners equal but picked Ajmal to have the edge next month.
“Both bowlers are assets for their team,” he said. “They are in form, delivering regularly but Ajmal will have the edge because of the ‘doosra’ which he delivers more effectively than Swann.”
Meanwhile, former off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed felt that Ajmal had more variation than Swann that will give the Pakistani edge over the latter.
“He has shown improvement after every series and I expect him to finish better than Swann. For Pakistan, Ajmal is a key player and the team will rely on him heavily.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2011.
The year’s highest wicket-taker in Test cricket, Saeed Ajmal, has been heavily backed by the team management and former Test cricketers to outshine England’s Graeme Swann in the upcoming Test series in the UAE.
Former Pakistan spinner and current England spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed predicted a tough competition between the duo in the series dubbed a battle for spin supremacy.
Coach Mohsin Khan voted Ajmal the best off-spinner in the business today.
“Ajmal is in good form and currently the best,” Mohsin told The Express Tribune. “I believe Ajmal is far better than Swann. However, Swann holds the advantage given England’s fielding and I hope Ajmal gets the same support. Our batsmen lack patience so that may work in Swann’s favour too.”
‘Doosra’ gives Ajmal the edge: Qasim
Meanwhile, former left-arm spinner Iqbal Qasim termed both spinners equal but picked Ajmal to have the edge next month.
“Both bowlers are assets for their team,” he said. “They are in form, delivering regularly but Ajmal will have the edge because of the ‘doosra’ which he delivers more effectively than Swann.”
Meanwhile, former off-spinner Tauseef Ahmed felt that Ajmal had more variation than Swann that will give the Pakistani edge over the latter.
“He has shown improvement after every series and I expect him to finish better than Swann. For Pakistan, Ajmal is a key player and the team will rely on him heavily.”
Published in The Express Tribune, December 30th, 2011.