Former Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has shared his concerns over international pitch standards in a candid interview.
The former cricketer did not hold back when addressing his concerns about the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) approach to pitch assessments, claiming the governing body shows bias when it comes to Pakistan’s playing conditions. Ajmal argued that Pakistan’s pitches are often tailored to suit visiting teams, but when the home side gains an advantage, the ICC steps in with criticism.
“Pakistan’s pitches are customized for visiting teams, giving them an edge. When we create conditions that favour our team, the ICC suddenly has issues. Yet, similar concerns aren’t raised when teams face spin or flat tracks in India, Australia, or England,” Ajmal remarked.
His comments come in the wake of Pakistan’s final test match against England which has garnered plenty of headlines over the playing surface. Pitches in Pakistan have become a topic of debate worldwide for their dullness in recent years which has led to ICC stepping in with demerit points on a couple of occasions.
Speaking about Pakistani spinners, Saeed Ajmal advised patience with the lot as they tend to mature later in cricketing life.
“Spinners typically come into their own after 30, once they’ve gained enough experience. While a bowler starts maturing around 25, it’s only later that they fully understand their strengths and master the art of deception,” Ajmal said during the interview with a local sports platform.
His words seem to hold weight with Pakistan’s neo-dependable duo of Sajid Khan and Noman Ali being 31 and 38 years of age respectively.