Time on the sidelines will shatter Ajmal's confidence: Miandad

E-Paper | April 25, 2026

ISLAMABAD: Former Pakistan captain and batting great Javed Miandad expressed shock over the exclusion of Saeed Ajmal from the tour of Sri Lanka, adding that the selectors would ‘shatter’ the confidence of the ace spinner by keeping him on the sidelines.

In an interview with APP on Thursday, Miandad pleaded Ajmal's case and said Test matches were the ideal format for the 37-year-old to regain his rhythm.

“I can't understand why the selectors did not give Saeed Ajmal a chance in the upcoming tour. He has been the number one bowler in the ICC rankings. They will only shatter his confidence by keeping him out,” Miandad said.

Ajmal, who has played 35 Test and 113 ODIs for Pakistan, picking up 178 and 184 wickets respectively, has played only two ODIs and one T20 since his return from the ICC ban on his bowling action. His returns in those games were less than favourable, leading to his omission from the Test series against Sri Lanka starting June 17.

His domestic returns were not too impressive either but Ajmal has been signed on by Worcestershire, the English county's captain Daryl Mitchell terming the Pakistani a “valuable asset”.

“He knows how to bowl and where to bowl, and how to suss batsmen out,” Mitchell said in an interview with BBC.

“I'm sure he will be a valuable asset in all forms again.

“I'm looking forward to having Saeed in our team again. He is a great guy to have in our dressing room.”

Ajmal will be available initially for seven T20 Blast appearances and three County Championship matches.

Pakistan, meanwhile, open the series against Sri Lanka with the first Test in Galle which starts on June 17.

The remaining two Tests will be in Colombo from June 25-29 and the third at Pallekele from July 3-7.

Pakistan and Sri Lanka will also play five one-dayers and two Twenty20 internationals, for which squads will be announced later.

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Juliana Fitzwater

Jun 04, 2015 08:44pm

He can play first class, country, club cricket; perform and stake his claim for re selection?

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Aijaz Akbar Ansari

Jun 04, 2015 08:48pm

May be because he lost his touch? Out of form? Don't have the magic anymore? or simply needs time to get back to form? Here you go. 4 reasons to ponder upon. Confidence will be back with form.

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Ash

Jun 04, 2015 09:05pm

I guess his carreer is over as he is already 37 years old.

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Shak

Jun 04, 2015 09:15pm

Miandad Sahib, you are forgetting an important point here. With his corrected action, he is no longer effective or a potent threat.

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Ghost

Jun 04, 2015 09:15pm

He cant chuck the ball anymore... hence no more wickets.. Pakistan should groom legitimate bowlers and not try to Replicate what Murli did...

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malik

Jun 04, 2015 09:15pm

It is better that Ajmal makes his return with Worcestershire against English County Batsmen. Rather than against Sangakarra, who used to destroy him before the ban & remodeled action. Ajmal will regain his confidence fast against the English but not Sri Lankans who mastered his spin, when he was at his peak.

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ksch

Jun 04, 2015 09:35pm

This is national team. Playing important series. Not some practice matches where u give people chances. And what about confidence of other deserving bowlers who were bowling in last year or so in his absence? Many people were saying to send him directly in worldcup but should have seen what happened to him in BD. He needs time to regain his control. A propet season in domestic events. So far , after his rectified action, he hasnt played much at domestic level.

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KARACHI WALA

Jun 04, 2015 09:52pm

I completely disagree with Miandad. After remodeling his action, Ajmal was struggling against minnows Bangladesh. His confidence would have shattered further against SL as SL is much better team. For him and Pakistan it is a blessing in disguise that he got a contract with Worcestershire. Performing in the county circuit will give him the confidence and boost he very much needs.

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A. Ahmad

Jun 04, 2015 10:14pm

Tough call, but probably the right decision!

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Sam

Jun 04, 2015 10:21pm

Agree with confidence shattering but I think it's time to let someone else play. Changing bowling style this late in a career won't help much. We will surely miss Ajmal but it's time to move on.

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rizwan haider

Jun 04, 2015 10:38pm

Its time to move on Ajmals confidence was shattered by Icc and indian cricket board due to jealousy but pcb needs to get rid of few sifarashi's likes of Mohamed Haffez and few others.

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Nangyal

Jun 04, 2015 10:53pm

Time in the middle would dent his confidence even more

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Rogers Evans

Jun 04, 2015 10:54pm

Ajmal is history. He should concentrate on his job with ZTB. People should forget him for good.

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M Jamal

Jun 04, 2015 11:14pm

Miandad is right in pointing out the PCB has done a blunder in omitting Saeed Ajamal. They want to finish his career so that a SAFARSHI can take his place in the team. This is how cricket is run in Pakistan.

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Adnan

Jun 04, 2015 11:27pm

So we are supposed to pick players based on past performance instead of current form? Based on that account, Miandad should be selected in the team as well!

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AdHawk

Jun 04, 2015 11:35pm

If you need to play full Test matches to gain rhythm what's the point of First Class Cricket?

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Faisal

Jun 04, 2015 11:42pm

With new action he doesn't look dangerous at all.

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Ovais

Jun 04, 2015 11:57pm

Typical PCB politics. Ajmal needs to go and play some county cricket to get the rhythm back on his bowling before his next appearance to the national team. We have all seen he is the hard working bowler and once he will play some good cricket abroad and join the national team he will be a super star again. Please allow him some time to settle down with his new bowling action, this is a very big transition and I' hope Ajmal will produce a new delivery with his new action.

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Jun 05, 2015 01:07am

Well I still believe in the current times, when 40 is the new 35, esp for spinners, 37 isn't too old at all. He's a very clever bowler. I think Pak cricket politics spoilt his chances more than anything else.

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Amin Syed

Jun 05, 2015 01:24am

Sir, you are absolutely right and we all know that you are one of the best cricketer ever produced by Pakistan. Ajmal, who has played 35 Test and 113 ODIs for Pakistan, picking up 178 and 184 wickets respectively, he definitely deserves much appreciation and he should be helped when he needs PCB and the fellow countrymen in the time of dejection and struggle. His record speaks of his talent and we shouldn't waste his enormous skill, talent and understanding of the game.

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sherali

Jun 05, 2015 01:29am

Even before reading Miadad's comments I also felt that the selectors made a grave mistake by omitting Ajmal out of the Sri Lankan tour. That would shaller anyone's confidence. But by this time we all know dirty politics in Pakistan's cricket arena. I pray that Ajmal is so successful in England's county that the selectors would know what Pakistan cricket lost.

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Ayan

Jun 05, 2015 01:29am

It's great Miandad! Listen to him please..

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M.Saeed

Jun 05, 2015 01:54am

I feel it was wrong to modify his arm-twist. The Control Board of Pakistan Cricket should have twisted arm of ICC to change their rule in favour of naturally gifted players like Ajmal, not the otherwise round.

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Jun 05, 2015 02:52am

In fact his confidence is already shattered with the changed bowling action. One wonders how did he play so many international matches with a flawed, illegal and uncalled for bowling action and took so many wickets?

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Pak

Jun 05, 2015 02:58am

Ajmal is special and he will InshaAllah make a full come back

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Jun 05, 2015 03:11am

I agree with Miandad...when Ahmad Shahzad can be brought back without any proof of performance, Umar Akmal given numerous chances, so as Hafeez...so why not Ajmal can be given one chance? Clearly Ajmal is by far the best international player Pakistan has produced after 2Ws...and far superior than all the three mentioned above combined. Ay given day he can win test match for Pakistan single handedly.

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Yankee Cricket Fan

Jun 05, 2015 03:28am

I cannot believe how immature Miandad sounds sometimes. He cannot perform yet we should still play him, really? What kind of logic is that? Ajmal's performance against BD proved that he is finished as an international cricketer. The sooner he and the so called experts (Miandad included) realize that the better.

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ivehadit

Jun 05, 2015 06:32am

more important to give Akmal a chance to blossom.

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Em Moosa

Jun 05, 2015 06:53am

@Sam Cricket does not find Ajmals in a day but lose in a moment because of wrong planning. If chief selector is Haroon Rasheed and coach Waqar Younus what you expect from them.

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Sadiq From Maryland

Jun 05, 2015 06:53am

For God Sake, Saeed pride is gone, he is 37 years old. His bowling is not affected as it use to be. So its time to say BYE to cricket and play domestic and County Cricket somewhere else. I don't see any place for him in the Pakistan Time. Let us encourage our young player. We must say Bye to Younus Khan, Shahid Afridi, Misbah, Shoib Malik, Sami etc.

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irshad

Jun 05, 2015 07:35am

Miandad is absolutely right. The Boatd spent a lot of time and money to assist Ajmal in correcting his action and now want to dump him on the basis of a few limited overs performances. That logic escapes me. He must be given a decent run in the longer form of the game to prove his mettle. If he does not measure up, dump him by all means.

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Seriously

Jun 05, 2015 08:08am

What Miandad and a lot of players fails to comprehend is that they are there to serve the country in the team and not the other way round. If Saeed Ajmal is still really that good, he should prove himself in domestic circuits in order to be called up for the national side.

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Nasir Khan

Jun 05, 2015 11:04am

What gave him confidence were his skill, guile and grit. All of these traits are missing in his bowling at this point in time. Miandad you were one of the greatest in your field- it is surprising that such a naive statement comes from you. It is the other way round- if a batman like you due to some technical amendment hits rock bottom then keeps on playing world class cricket in miserable form that would make you lose confidence. This is not the end of the world- God willing if he regains his skills he will be in off course. But international cricket is not net practice.

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Iqbal

Jun 05, 2015 12:41pm

Test arena is no place for a 35 plus year old spinner to give his remodeled bowling action a go. PCB surprisingly made one good decision to not include him in the team. Let's see how he does for Worcestershire before even thinking of including him back in the team. Javed Miandad has completely lost the plot.

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Abdulla Hussain

Jun 05, 2015 01:33pm

You dont treat your hero like that. Saeed Ajmal is undoubtedly a national cricket hero. He has been made to suffer because of an adopted ICC rule which was never there since cricketing history.

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Javeria

Jun 05, 2015 03:04pm

I am 100℅ agree with Miandad:)

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Javeria

Jun 05, 2015 03:05pm

I am 100℅ agree with Miandad:)

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Ali

Jun 05, 2015 03:17pm

Miandad is just another talking ex-cericketer

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Naveed,USA

Jun 05, 2015 05:04pm

I don't agree with Miandad,Ajmal was ace spinner with his bowling action which did not fall under Icc's rules and regulations. And with his remodeled bowling action,he should perform in first class cricket and his effectiveness in the same way. International cricket is not for boosting his confidence,he has already played so much international cricket and he is matured cricket,all he need is to make himself effective again.He should play first class cricket. This criticism doesn't carry weight.

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Sarah

Jun 05, 2015 05:16pm

@Sadiq From Maryland Why Younis Khan and Misbah mate? Both scoring heavily in every series and still need to retire.Infact they should be playing till there fitness level permits and there desire goes on.Test cricket is not for new born babies.It needs experience,confidence which both these guys have.Sohaib Malik was fine in ODI,so he should carry on there,people in cricket are as good as last inning.Let him play without criticism

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