Saeed Ajmal was one of the best spinners Pakistan produced as despite debuting at the age of 30, he managed to impress one and all with his ability to bamboozle the batters with his variation of spin.
He played for Pakistan from 2009 to 2015 appearing in 35 Tests, 113 ODIs, and 64 T20I matches. He picked 178 Test, 184 ODI, and 85 T20I wickets. The best series of his career came early in 2012, when he destroyed the batting line-up of the best team in the world, England, taking 24 wickets in just three Tests at 14.70.
Ajmal also played a big role in Pakistan’s 2009 T20 World Cup win in England. There were questions over his bowling action as well as ICC kept a close eye on whether his bent in the arm was within permissible limits or not.
In 2014, he was banned by ICC for his bowling action after an independent analysis found it to be illegal. He made a comeback after remodeling his action, but the impact was no longer there and he faded away soon after.
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Apart from his action, Ajmal recently talked about how he was judged and mocked for his lack of knowledge of the English language. He was not the only one among the long list of cricketers from Pakistan who would make a fool of themselves speaking foul English on live television, but his videos speaking to Nasser Hussain—close to ten years ago, are still well-watched on social media.
“Jab mai world number one bana, mujhe bade bando ne kaha ki tu English sikh le, maine kaha meri marzi bhai, mai jo marzi karu. (When I became world number one, some people asked me to learn English and I told them I will do what I want)”, Ajmal said on Cricwick podcast.
“Agar apko meri mother language mai interview karna hai to karo, aur mai shy nahi hu aur na hi hona chiye.” (If you want to speak in my mother language, then go ahead. I wasn’t shy at all for speaking Urdu.) Hume English nahi ati, pur jo hum kar rahey hai, duniya dekh rahi hai, I am world number one,” he added.
Over the years, Pakistan cricketers have been judged on their English across the world. Several fans and comedians regularly roast Pakistan cricketers; some of them are also meme materials.
“I am world number one, the world will come to me, I have no reason to go and ask for interviews. English language, I hate that word. If you know English, you are good and if you are not then you are bad, wah yaar,” Ajmal poured his heart out.
Here is the video:
