FAISALABAD: Saeed Ajmal on Monday threatened to burn the equipment of his academy if the University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) did not re-open the facility on which the legendary off-spinner has claimed to have spent Rs 60 million.
“My academy has been forcefully closed by the varsity’s administration,” Ajmal said, “I am now being asked to pack up and leave the academy.”
The spinner said that he had no plan to occupy the academy’s land and that his intention was to train young kids. “The administration is using security as an excuse to prevent his entry. Am I making bombers in the academy,” he angrily said.
He said he would invite all cricketing stars to join him during his next protest.
Ajmal said he would stage a protest on Wednesday in front of the District Council Faisalabad against closure of his cricket academy by the.
He claimed that he was allotted farm land by the UAF. He said that there were about 400 male and female young players of 10 teams registered at his academy including handicapped and blind players, who availed the facilities of coaching and practice.
Ajmal said eleven months ago, he was told that due to security concerns, the cricket academy was being closed for some time temporarily. But now, the UAF had closed it permanently from Sunday without any prior notice.
Responding to Ajmal’s accusation, UAF Vice-Chancellor Iqrar Ahmed Khan said not a penny was spent by Ajmal on this academy.
He said that the spinner could play in the academy but “the land belongs to the university and it cannot be allotted to him.”
MOHSIN KHAN THROWS WEIGHT BEHIND AJMAL: Former chief selector Mohsin Hasan Khan on Monday urged the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to support Saeed Ajmal in his bad times saying the board is like a fatherly figure to the players and if it backs off then who will guide them.
Mohsin was of the opinion that Ajmal’s statement should be paid attention and taken seriously. “PCB should call Ajmal and listen to what he has to say,”
He said Ajmal has been going through a bad phase and is frustrated with his career. “It is better the PCB meet Ajmal and talk into the matter and tell him about their future plans of whether he is included in them or not,” he said adding the PCB must make it clear to Ajmal as it is a matter of his career.