England And India Have Two Teams Now, Our One Is Struggling To Survive - Saeed Ajmal On Pakistan's ODI Series Loss To Second-String England
Published - 14 Jul 2021, 04:41 PM | Updated - 23 Aug 2024, 12:49 AM
Former spinner Saeed Ajmal expressed his distress over Pakistan‘s embarrassing ODI series loss to a second-string England outfit, which was assembled just two days prior to the start of the series after covid had hit the original squad.
The hosts whitewashed Babar Azam’s side 3-0 in the ODI series concluded on Tuesday in Birmingham. Pakistan’s batting was disappointing: in the first two ODIs they were bowled out for less than 200; in the third, though they batted better, they could post a par total according to the batting-friendly nature of the pitch as the target was chased down by England with two overs to spare.
Saeed Ajmal points out that countries like England and India are able to put up two strong sides simultaneously; on the other hand, Pakistan are struggling to win a game with their best side.
“Babar Azam has scored 14 hundreds in 81 innings. What should I say now? Even after playing a brilliant innings he had to return to the pavilion frustrated (after Pakistan’s loss). It used to happen to me as well. I took five-wicket hauls but the team used to lose. I can only see two or three top players,” Saeed Ajmal said in his YouTube video.
Even in bowling, apart from two or three bowlers, I don’t see any of them (of quality). How will we survive like this? Our middle order is still a flop. If the top order performs then only we can put commendable score. Whenever the top order fails our teams get completely bogged down. England and India have two teams now, our one is struggling to survive.”
Don’t have such poor policies where players lack fitness and skills: Saeed Ajmal
Saeed Ajmal also asserts poor planning and policies of the PCB hurting their cricket. He reckons that players need to be fitter but at the same time skills also should be given importance and not select or drop players solely based on their fitness.
“What are you preparing for? We have been crying for three years that we need to play youngsters and we need to improve on our fitness levels. What did you achieve? Now we have once again come back to- leave fitness level, we need talent now.
“Now, you have brought in Sharjeel Khan, Azam Khan. Now you have started saying we want to see skills in players’. Fitness is important but don’t have such poor policies where players lack fitness and skills,” the former spinner added.
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