Pakistan’s young wicket-keeper Adnan Akmal admitted that Ajmal was difficult to judge from behind the wickets as well and he needed extra practice to be successful. Ajmal took a career-best seven for 55 in the first-innings and then three for 42 in the second to help Pakistan rout England by 10 wickets in the first Test in Dubai, giving them a 1-0 lead in the three-Test series.
But despite the difficulty, the 26-year-old Adnan finished with seven catches in the match and his valuable knock of 61 helped Pakistan gain an important 146-run lead in the first-innings.
Adnan, who replaced his more experienced elder brother Kamran Akmal in the Pakistan line-up in 2010, said Ajmal’s doosra was difficult to pick.
“I had some trouble keeping on Ajmal’s doosra,” Adnan, refering to the delivery which turns the other way than the off-break. “I worked with Ijaz Ahmed [fielding coach] and the drills helped me a lot. It’s a bit different and difficult to keep off him. I’ve practiced a lot and every time I keep wickets I watch his hand.”
‘I’ve set no signals with Ajmal’
Adnan denied he has set any signals with Ajmal on which delivery will come next.
“It is only after a lot of practice that I am doing better on his bowling. I have set no signals because if you set signals then it is no use being the keeper.”
When asked about Ajmal’s mystery delivery, which the off-spinner had claimed to unveil against England, Adnan said he had found no different delivery.
“I never felt any difference. They were normal deliveries like I have been keeping to in the last few matches.”
Published in The Express Tribune, January 24th, 2012.
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