Former Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal advices Pakistan team should raise their spin bowling option to get success against India.
On Sunday (September 23, 2018), India and Pakistan are going to meet for the second time in the ongoing Asia Cup 2018. Earlier in this tournament (at group stage), they faced each other on last Wednesday (September 19, 2018) at Dubai where India thrashed them by eight wickets (with 126 balls remaining).
Analysing the Indian cricket team, Ajmal told Hindustan Times, “With Hardik Pandya being injured, Ravindra Jadeja came in against Bangladesh and look how well he adapted. The all-rounder starts off with 4 wickets in the game. This is what makes you sit up and take note. If you notice, India haven’t looked to play attacking cricket with bat in hand. They have waited to launch an onslaught and have kept wickets in hand. The openers have given the team a good start in all the games. Rohit has been top-class both with bat and as captain. And now you have an MS Dhoni who looked in good form against Bangladesh.
“If you come to the bowling attack, you have Jasprit Bumrah who has been exceptional. Then you have someone like Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Bhuvneshwar can bowl with both the new and old ball. Thanks to these two India’s death bowling has become strong. The spinners have also done an excellent job except for Yuzvendra Chahal.”
Also read: Asia Cup (Super Four) – India vs Pakistan Match Preview
Ajmal has also pointed out that the Indian cricketers have more international cricket experiences than the Pakistan cricketers, even their skipper Virat Kohli has been rested.
Ajmal said, “They have the experience and if you look at the Pakistan team, you only have a Shoaib Malik who is a senior pro. India on the other hand have 4/5 players who have been in the team for a while now. Yes, Pakistan might have beaten India in the final of the Champions Trophy, but that doesn’t take away the fact that India have experience on their side.”
Ajmal feels that the one-sided defeat against India in the group stage of ongoing Asia Cup was unacceptable, especially when their skipper Virat Kohli is not present. He feels the Pakistan batting disaster was the responsible for getting thrashed in that game on last Wednesday.
Prior to the Sunday’s game, the former Pakistan off-spinner said, “I have just one message for them and that is for them to play positively. They shouldn’t think too far ahead and when you have some quality bowlers in your ranks, you just need to stay positive and look to have the right attitude. In the last game, India won one sided and when the team does that minus Virat Kohli, that is unacceptable. A good contest is what is expected, after that if you lose well bad luck.
“Losing with dignity is one thing and getting thrashed is another. I feel that Pakistan have a better bowling attack than India’s and it is the batting which let the team down in the last game. If the batsmen can give the bowlers something to play with, things can change. You have to realise that India have the batting to score 300. On the other hand, the Pakistan attack is one which can keep them under check. But, even then, the batsmen have to put at least 250 on the board if they bat first.”
Ajmal believes UAE conditions are suitable for the spinners and India and Afghanistan have achieved their success in this tournament due to having enough spin-bowling options. The 40-year-old has felt surprised to see that Pakistan has fallen to find the right combination in the familiar UAE conditions by mostly depending on their pacers.
Ajmal said, “I had a good record on these wickets and I feel over here you need to add a lot of variation to your bowling. If you keep bowling at the same pace on these wickets, you are bound to be taken to the cleaners. The team needs to have more than 1 spinner. If you look at both India and Afghanistan, they are playing 3 spinners each and I feel that is what the track and conditions demand. Pakistan must also go the same direction. No team is winning with fast bowlers here, all are winning because of their spinners. Look at even Afghanistan and you will see what I am trying to say.
“I am a bit surpised to see that Pakistan is failing to find the right combination. We have played so many matches here in Dubai and we should be aware of what the conditions are and what is expected when it comes to team selection. You have to admit that the conditions in the UAE suit the spin bowlers.”
Talking about to beat India, Ajmal advises the Pakistan team to use two spinners as Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan and must score more than 250 runs.
He said, “If you ask me, I would say Mohammad Nawaz and Shadab Khan should be playing together as spin is the way to go. Secondly, the bowlers need the support of the batsmen and Pakistan must score 250 plus as all the teams have managed to do that when it comes to winning games. In this case, they must also remember that India chase really well and if they cannot put at least 250 on the board, the Pakistan bowlers will not have much to do. They should fight till the end and make this a contest that shall be remembered for ages.”
