PAK vs AUS: If You Want To Complain About ‘Flat Pitches’ Then You Should Quit Cricket - Saeed Ajmal To Pakistan Spinners

Former Pakistan spin bowler Saeed Ajmal said spinners should not be dependent on the kind of track and must master the art of getting wickets in any form of conditions across the globe. Pakistan battled strenuously against Australia’s formidable bowling attack in order to earn a draw on the final day of the second Test.

The flat pitches in Rawalpindi and Karachi have drawn a huge amount of flak from experts across the globe, including many prominent former Pakistan players like Wasim Akram and Shoaib Akhtar.

The one who spins himself can take wickets in any condition: Saeed Ajmal

Pakistan spinners Sajid Khan and Nauman Ali shared three wickets between them in the Karachi Test. Ajmal, who snapped 178 Test dismissals in 35 matches, dismissed the notion of Pakistan having commendable turning tracks in the past. Ajmal said a spinner needs to learn to play mind games with the batter and not just seek assistance from the pitches.

“If the spinner is going to look at the pitch and then bowl, what is the point of being a spinner then? Spinners need to learn to perform in all conditions. These were flat pitches and honestly, many decks in Test cricket are like this,” Ajmal told Cricket Pakistan.

“The notion that Pakistan always had spin wickets was never the case. Even when we were playing in the UAE, we had to spin the ball and it did not just magically happen.”

“There are two things; one is where you spin yourself and the other where spin happens for you. These are two fundamentally different things. The one who spins himself can take wickets in any condition. Our problem is that we don’t utilise the pace variations enough,” Ajmal added.

Nauman Ali bowled relatively well: Saeed Ajmal

Nauman Ali is currently the leading wicket-taker of the Test series thanks to his 6/107 in the Rawalpindi Test, the left-arm spinner couldn’t replicate his brilliance in the Karachi Test where he picked a solitary wicket of Australia all-rounder Cameron Green. Ajmal showered praise on the 35-year-old spinner in the way he dismissed Green.

“Nauman Ali bowled relatively well and the wicket of Cameron Green is a perfect example; the ball pitched on the leg side and spun to clip the middle and off-stump. Although there weren’t many deliveries like that but that is an example of how bowlers create opportunities when the track is not supporting you,” Ajmal said.

“To take wickets, you need temperament. You need to bowl a good 8-10 overs to play mind games with the batsmen and then you will be able to execute your plan. If you want to complain about ‘flat pitches’ then you should quit cricket,” he added.

The third Test between Pakistan and Australia will be played at the Gaddafi stadium in Lahore, the match commences on Monday (March 21).

Also Read: PAK vs AUS: We Expect A Lot Like The First 2 Tests – Pat Cummins On The Lahore Surface