Pakistan’s embattled off-spinner Saeed Ajmal may have seen his stint with Worcestershire come to an end but he has not given up hopes of comeback to the national team.
The 37-year-old has struggled to regain his previous form since returning to international cricket following a six-month ban for an illegal action.
Following a couple of meagre performances in the ODI series against Bangladesh in April, however, the spin maestro — once ranked as ICC’s top bowler — saw selectors lose their faith in him.
He hoped to recapture some of his guile during his county stint with Worcestershire but he leaves them two matches before the end of the season.
*“There was no sacking or early termination of my contract as some media is reporting,” he told Pakpassion.net, dispelling recent rumours that he’d been sacked in favour of West Indian paceman Shannon Gabriel.
Ajmal's manager, Moghees Sheikh, confirmed that the bowler's contract had simply come to an end.
“His contract with Worcestershire is until September 4, as he will be leaving for Hajj the day after his return to Pakistan next week. Worcestershire had wanted him to play for them for the whole season but he had decided and agreed with Worcestershire prior to signing the contract this season that he wouldn't be able to play the whole season and would return to Pakistan prior to the end of the season.”
Ajmal picked 16 wickets at 48.50 in the County Championship — a rather indifferent return for a spinner who terrorised batsmen world over with his magical bowling.
But Worcestershire skipper Daryl Mitchell paid tribute to the efforts of Ajmal who is coming to the end of a third spell with the County.
“Saeed has been fantastic over the last couple of years,” Mitchell said.
“He probably hasn’t got as many wickets for us as he would have liked in red ball cricket this season but has proven again what a fantastic white ball bowler he is in the 50-over competition as well as being outstanding in the T20 format.”
Ajmal hopes he can push his way back into the Pakistan squad even with the emergence of Yasir Shah and Zulfiqar Babar as the first-choice spinners.
“I'm confident that I can make a comeback for my country and prove my critics wrong,” he said.
“I feel that I'm not a spent force when it comes to international cricket and as a bowler I still have something to offer my country.”
