'We must be prepared for World Cup without Ajmal'

E-Paper | June 29, 2026

KARACHI: Spin maestro Saeed Ajmal's suspension may have come as a shock to Pakistan's chances for the World Cup 2015 in Australia, but head coach Waqar Younis is looking ahead.

"What happened is unfortunate and a big blow to the team. But we have to plan thinking that Saeed [Ajmal] could not be available for the World Cup," a report published by IBN Live quoted legendary fast bowler Waqar Younis as saying.

Know more: ICC bans Saeed Ajmal from bowling

"I know Saeed [Ajmal] is keen to make a comeback and is working hard on his action. Saqlain [Mushtaq] will also be helping him soon. One hopes he is back. But we have to look for a replacement as well," the former captain said.

The top-ranked off-spinner had been suspended indefinitely from international cricket for an illegal bowling action but had vowed to return in time for next year’s World Cup in Australia and New Zealand.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) had banned the 36-year-old after biomechanic tests revealed that all his deliveries breached the permissible limit for straightening of the elbow joint.

Know more: Ajmal not essential to World Cup hopes, says Miandad

Pakistan's head coach was also unhappy with the timings of domestic Twenty20 event, which is in progress at National Stadium Karachi. According to media reports, Younis was planning on having a training camp before the Australia encounte.

On the other hand, Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan's Test and One Day International (ODI) captain, has also reportedly showed his discontent over the scheduling of domestic T20 event without players' consultation, citing that this would result in a clash between domestic commitments and preparations for upcoming international fixtures.

The Press Trust of India quoted a Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) official as saying that they had no choice but to hold the national T20 [in September] due to the packed domestic calendar and the World Cup 2015.

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Parvez

Sep 22, 2014 02:03pm

Using the same old tainted horses to guide the team......is doing the same wrong thing over and over, expecting a different result. With this lot of experts.......WE WILL LOSE.

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Naheem

Sep 22, 2014 02:20pm

Dosent waqar younis want pakistan to have a better chance of winning, by saying pakistan should work without ajmal is something a little suspicious

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Haider Rehman

Sep 22, 2014 02:30pm

We can only hope a new dark knight rises. ;)

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Guest64

Sep 22, 2014 02:39pm

Get on with the job rather than giving sermons " what is best and what is a shock " , Its your job to plan and work the plan out so that You do not fall on lame excuses later on while being under the spot light , confronting the other teams in the Tournament . Enough of talking sir , now develop a plan to deliver some goodness via on the field performances . I hope you and the team have learnt that aspect of the tough job ahead ," while you were demolished by the Srilankan team in recent ODI series " that just talking and hoping we wiill win , DOES NOT CONSTITUTE any merit .

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Pakistani

Sep 22, 2014 03:32pm

There is not much time ;left for pick and choose, I think the team should have been in shape at least a year before starting off world cup.Saeed Ajmal will not be a big factor in Australian New Zealand pitches as we already have good enough spinner to replace him or maybe should have inducted an all rounder who can do medium pace bowling with accurate line lenght and can ht the bowl hard like Lance Klusner did for South Africa back in 1999 World cup.

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Dubaakoru

Sep 22, 2014 03:32pm

Fast pitches in Aus and NZ won't help spinners. Not much need of the spinners ,of course. Anyway, Chuckers must be given REST till they fall in line.

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Dubaakoru

Sep 22, 2014 03:45pm

@Pakistani Pakistan has enough talent pool, which could only be filled by the players from Lahore. Look, how many players are from Lahore in the national team...

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Ashraf Usman

Sep 22, 2014 04:05pm

I am surprised to note that a nation of 180 million people is depending on just one bowler to appear in the world cup, let alone win it. What was Board and army of coaches doing when Ajmal was deteriorating his bowling action. A bowling coach should be keenly watching the performance of every bowler to coach and correct them. Why the umpires who are not bowling experts were the first ones to note and call it illegal action? Where was the succession plan for each and every position in the test, ODI and 2020 teams. No wonder that for captain of 2020 team for the upcoming series against Australia we could find only the already spent force of Afridi. Why is so much abundant talent of the domestic cricket not given any chance ? Its about time that PCB should operate as a professional organization with clear cut policies and procedures rather than on parchies coming from all corners.

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A Pakistani

Sep 22, 2014 04:12pm

Never liked Younis as a coach.

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optimist

Sep 22, 2014 05:27pm

Mr. Waqar Younus and Mr. Misbah-ul-Haq if you guys love Pakistan cricket then please step down from your posts. Misbah the tuk tuk will guarantee that the team will not even qualify for the quarter finals.

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sami

Sep 22, 2014 06:45pm

Coach, for ODI WCup Ajmal absence doesn't matter much. For Australia ODIs we should have aggressive team like this Shahzad, Umar Akmal, Misbah, Fawad, Sohaib, Sarfraz wt keeper, Afridi, Wahab Riaz, Junaid, Ehsan Adil, Mohammad Irfan. Should have at least 3 specialist fast bowlers. No place for Hafeez. Umar Akmal should be played as a specialist ODI batsman opener. He is fearless by nature and could give good start. I think he will be more successful as an opener by playing freely.....

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Nadeem

Sep 22, 2014 07:24pm

Biggest khao peer waqar younis.. What has he given Pakistan .. Couldn't even produce one good Pakistani bowler..

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Yogesh

Sep 22, 2014 07:37pm

@Nadeem either u are ignorant or u hv some serious problem with waqar. he was one of d most fantastic bowlers..fast furious. swinging. yorking.over 400wickets in test..not a halwa.he was awesome in his prime. n he can't reproduce new bowlers as u pointed..he can only guide if someone comes to him..has he ever refused? I dnt think so. n remember. .last time whn he was coach. Pakistan fast bowlers were doing really well.. from India. .thanks mr. waqar yonus for d thrill of fast bowling.

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Javid Shirazi

Sep 22, 2014 08:31pm

In 1992, Waqar Younis could not play because of issues with a bad back. Then it was a blow to the team. But still they won the world cup. If Ajmal is unavailable this time, so what? Remember cricket is a team game. Depending on one player alone has never been a viable option.

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Arch

Sep 22, 2014 08:33pm

This must be an American conspiracy against our pure land

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Sep 22, 2014 09:17pm

w or w/o Ajmal...you guys must be prepared for returning home early without the cup as well

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Sarah

Sep 22, 2014 09:18pm

Saw some of new players from Lahore Lions had no clue against Sunil Naraine or how to handle spin bowling.I believe they will be all at sea against Dale Steyn ,Mitchell Johnson,ANderson and Chris Broad too.No wonder why Pakistan team has to fall back on old horses because choices are limited.System need to be revamped.It is going in no direction currently.Definitely Pakistan would do well to include Fawad Alaam,Sarfaraz Ahmed in all formats.Among bowlers AIzaz Cheema need to be back along with Raza Hasasan.Abdul Rehman needs to play when he is back in form in domestic sector.Please don't select out of touch players .Nasir Jamshed such wonderful batsman is just out of touch at moment.Bring him back when he regains confidence and form but not at moment.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 22, 2014 10:37pm

A highly pragmatic, grossly realistic, absolutely truthful and totally sensible statement by one of the most feared legendary fast bowlers of the world of global cricket, currently dispensing his responsibilities as the head coach of "green-shirts."

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Rogers Evans

Sep 22, 2014 11:23pm

Not only World Cup, Pakistan should prepare themselves for future as well as Ajmal is history now. Give chance to youngsters

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pakfan

Sep 22, 2014 11:28pm

@sami The way Misbah plays he has to play at # 3. Batting at # 5 doesn't help the team. Fatwad Alam should play at # 5 as he rotates the strike much better.

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Talha

Sep 22, 2014 11:33pm

I honestly feel that Shahid Khan Afridi should be given the captaincy for one day as well as T20 cricket. Misbah should be a part team but his role should be restricted to anchor the batting line.

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Ishrat Ansari

Sep 23, 2014 12:03am

Has anything changed after the recent defeats in Sri Lanka? Have the selectors and the coaches been held responsible for the defeats? Of course not! Our selectors do not choose players in form and on merit. Why? Because there are no adverse repercussions on them for their blatantly wrongheaded and rotten reasons for selecting players, some tainted with betting scandals. In any other country these selectors would be fired. They have no shame and no fear of how the nations would react. Their jobs and fat salaries are secure no matter what. Perhaps it is too late to do anything before the Australian matches. But we have the right to a citizen's campaign to throw these selectors out and insist that World Cup team is selected on merit.

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Dr. Asim Maqbool

Sep 23, 2014 06:22am

Why we are so obsessed with Ajmal factor? Mr. Waqar... pls concentrate on batting side. Remember we are playing on pitches where Pakistani batsmen have always struggled.

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mantharia

Sep 23, 2014 02:39pm

Sounds like an australian and not Pakistani coach.

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Abhi

Sep 23, 2014 08:58pm

Surprised to know that even pakistan national team captain is making only 2.5 lakh INR per month(4200 USD per month). Even a senior manager in india will be making more money than this. Now I know why pakistanies are dying to play in IPL / CPL. What a shame.

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