Saeed Ajmal
Saeed Ajmal (Credits: Twitter)

It is fair to say that Pakistan cricket team and a run-chase do not get along with each other. Over the years, we have the Men in Green make a real hash of a seemingly easy run-chase.

But what they did in a 2013 One-day International against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates, even bypassed their own standards.

It was the first ODI of the five-match series, and Pakistan, on the back of an imperious four-wicket haul by Saeed Ajmal (4-30) had put themselves into a pole position by bowling the Proteas out for 183.

Saeed Ajmal Recounts An Incident Where He Broke His Phone Into Pieces Following Umar Akmal's Statement
Saeed Ajmal (Credits – AP)

And, when a half-century from Ahmed Shehzad (58) and other valuable contributions from the top-order had put them within 17 runs in reach of South Africa’s total, Ajmal had thought that the game was over and was already bracing himself for the ‘Player of the Match’ award.

“I had taken four wickets and was sure that I will get the man of the match award as we needed only 17 runs to win and five wickets were left with [Shahid] Afridi and Umar Akmal at the crease. I thought of having dinner quickly so that I can go to collect my man of the match award.” Saeed Ajmal said in a Youtube video as quoted by cricketpakistan.com.pk.

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“As soon as I was about to put food into my plate, one wicket fell so I asked Wahab [Riaz] to pad up but he was confident that we will still win. Then, suddenly Afridi got out as well and Wahab started padding up. I told Wahab that I am padding up as well since I didn’t trust his batting either. As soon as I put on my pads, Wahab also got out. In the end, I was left stranded with Mohammad Irfan, needing 15 runs to win, and we lost the match by one run.” Ajmal added.

When Saeed Ajmal broke his mobile phone into pieces

Saeed Ajmal Recounts An Incident Where He Broke His Phone Into Pieces Following Umar Akmal's Statement
Shoaib Malik revealed Saeed Ajmal’s version from the famous drop catch. Image Courtesy: Getty

Pakistan eventually lost the game by 1 run. Ajmal was adjudged the ‘Player of the Match’ and the spinner revealed how Umar Akmal’s statement in the dressing room irked him to an extent that he proceeded to smash the mobile phone into pieces.

“I got a mobile phone in the prize distribution ceremony for being the best bowler of the match. When I came inside the dressing room, Umar Akmal came up to me and said ‘Wow Saeed bhai, you got a mobile’, which made me so angry that I threw the mobile away and smashed it into pieces. I wanted to win the match and not the mobile,” he said.

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Pakistan eventually lost the 5-match series 1-4 but they soon staged redemption when they beat South Africa 2-1 in their own den, immediately after the series.