Pakistan’s pace-bowling legend Wasim Akram is exasperated with the way British press has been harping about the bowling action of Pakistan’s off-spinner Saeed Ajmal and termed as “stale” the pressure tactics of the home media. Ajmal took a 10-wicket haul in the Pakistan’s impressive 10-wicket win over world number one Test team England in the Dubai Test.
“Instead of praising him (Saeed Ajmal) for he is someone special, instead of admitting their team didn’t do well and Pakistan played better cricket, they are after him,” said Akram, who was commentating on the final Test between India and Australia.
“It’s not funny anymore, it’s boring, stale and old.” Former England players raised a question-mark about Ajmal’s bowling action after the stunning defeat and the British media hasn’t stopped carping on it since then.
“Whenever they lose, they talk negative. It’s the English batsmen who played bad shots, sweeping across the line to off-spinner. It’s no rocket science that you can’t play across the line. But probably they don’t know. It’s the job of umpires and ICC–not British media. “The permissible limit is 15 degrees and he’s been tested and tried for bowling well below it. He’s been around for 7-8 years. Why suddenly pick on him?” said an agitated Akram.
“I have been reading for the last 3-4 days in British media. We all know what goes through media usually goes through players. Ajmal doesn’t turn the ball. He’s just quicker. On a placid track, where there was no swing, no spin, no reverse swing, just lust green outfield, he got them playing across the line.” Akram sees a trend through all this noise. He believes England has a habit of picking holes through opposition whenever their team doesn’t do well.
“The noise now is because it has happened against the mighty England, the number one Test team of the world. On the tour of 1992, we got them out in every game. Then they accused us of ball-tampering. Then I got a seven in the very next game. We then played county cricket and taught every bowler for 10 years how to reverse swing the ball.
“Instead of saying their team didn’t do well and Pakistan played better cricket, they are targeting a special talent. Why it always happens against a sub-continent team.”
Akram doesn’t feel it would affect Pakistan in the remaining two Tests and might just backfire on the England team.
“I don’t think it would affect them. Indeed, it would create a positive impact on them. It would motivate them. Instead of being on the back-foot, it would help their cause.”
Pakistan has shown an upward graph in recent times and has done particularly well under the leadership of Misbah-ul-Haq, winning seven of their last 13 Tests.
“Misbah is doing a great job as a skipper. Pakistan’s confidence is sky high. It’s a good sign,” Akram said.
Wasim slams British press for questioning Ajmal’s action
