KARACHI: Pakistan’s ace off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has claimed that he declined an offer to captain the national T20 side because he did not want to take unnecessary pressure and wanted to concentrate on his bowling.

Ajmal told a website that he was reluctant to take up the captaincy which was offered to him after Mohammed Hafeez’s resignation in April because he felt better participating as a player. “I don’t want to put myself forward for captaincy. I think I am better as a team player. I do think about being captain of Pakistan, but I am reluctant too,” Ajmal said.

“Captaincy in Pakistan is not easy. The captain ends up being blamed for anything that goes wrong. Just look at Mohammad Hafeez. He resigned after our exit from this year’s World T20. Why? It’s because all the blame was being dumped on him.

“I have been approached for captaincy but I declined. I want to be relaxed about my cricket.” Hafeez had quit following the team’s group-stage exit from the World T20 and the selectors are still looking for a T20 captain.

Ajmal praised Misbah-ul-Haq’s performance as ODI and Test captain.

Published in Dawn, May 31st, 2014