Inzamam-ul-Haq says Saeed Ajmal will be picked any time Pakistan needs him
At the present moment, all the talk surrounding Pakistan’s spin bowling is about Yasir Shah and how he has played a significant role in reigniting the much-dying art of leg-spin bowling in world cricket.
But before Shah became the spinner that he is today, another Pakistan spinner ruled the roost and caused havoc among the batsman with his skills.
Saeed Ajmal may not be playing international cricket at the moment, but was no doubt in a class of his own when bowling in full flow. However, his action came under the scanner in 2014 and he was subsequently barred from bowling.
Ajmal went back, worked with former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq and rectified his action, but as is the case often, the percentage of success with a remodified action from the word go is always less and Ajmal was pasted for 74 runs in 10 overs in his comeback game.
Also read: Saeed Ajmal brushes aside retirement talks, targets limited-overs return
Ajmal is yet to play an international match for Pakistan in 2016 but has received a big vote of confidence from selector Inzamam-ul-Haq, who revealed that if the 39-year-old’s services are needed for the national team, he will be roped in.
“It is never easy for a bowler to come back with a modified bowling action and do well. Saeed has shown lot of resilience and he can be rewarded.
"If Saeed is required at anytime for the Pakistan team he will be selected. There is no question of ruling him out. But we are now following a policy of picking players according to team requirements," Inzamam said.
The former right-hander further added that they were looking at alternate solutions to fill the vacant off spinner's position in the team at the moment.
“Since Saeed and Hafeez encountered problems we have not had any off-spinner worthy of a second look. I have asked our selector Tauseef Ahmed to hold a camp for promising off-break bowlers soon and see what can be done," he said.
At present, however, it seems like Pakistan don’t need an off-spinner with Shah doing the job for the side and leading the Men in Green to victories, almost on his own.