Noting that beating Sri Lanka on their home soil with the likes of Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene in their ranks was no easy task, ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal on Thursday said he would try to play lead role in helping Pakistan down the Islanders in the forthcoming Test series.
“In the presence of classy and mature batsmen like Kumar Sangakkara and Mahela Jayawardene it is not easy to beat Sri Lanka on their soil but I think Pakistan team is capable of earning positive results,” Ajmal said while talking to reporters before starting training at the national camp set up for Pakistan’s forthcoming tour to Sri Lanka starting early next month.
He said primary target on the visit to Sri Lanka was to beat the hosts to get improve Pakistan’s Test ranking. Pakistan are scheduled to play two Tests and three One-day Internationals on the tour.
“I took 15 wickets in three Tests on our last tour to Sri Lanka [in 2012], which I think was not an outstanding performance but this time I will try to play lead role to help my team win the Tests,” the 36-year-old spinner, who has claimed 169 scalps at an impressive average of 27.46 in 33 Tests, added.
Ajmal also feels proud of his ability to bowl ‘doosra’, saying every batsman knows about his skill, even then he traps them with that specific delivery.
“It is a blessing of God that I can bowl ‘doosra’ and every batsman knows about it, still I get wickets on it,” Ajmal, having taken 182 ODI wickets in 110 games at a fine 22.24, stated.
Emphasising the fact that ups and downs were part and parcel of any player, the wily spinner said he always tried his best not to let his team down with his performance.
While noting that around 90 per cent wickets in contemporary Test cricket were predominantly batsmen-friendly, Ajmal said at the same time it was not the right approach for a bowler to express disappointment over not getting pitches of his choice.
“As professionals we have to bowl successfully even on flat pitches and bowlers can achieve favourable results even on these tracks if they go with a positive frame of mind,” a determined-looking Saeed stressed.
