Saeed Ajmal dismisses retirement rumours, says he is sure he won't be discarded

Ajmal’s future will be decided in Rawalpindi next week

Saeed Ajmal has dismissed rumours about his retirement. Chief Selector Haroon Rasheed has said that he is waiting to “judge him” in the upcoming T20s.

"I never wanted to retire in obscurity as I have done enough for Pakistan to win matches single-handedly," Ajmal told ESPNcricinfo. "I want to retire with respect and honour. I will definitely sit with the selectors and discuss my future plan with them."

Ajmal was playing with Worcestershire until recently. He believes he is still useful for Pakistan cricket.

"Obviously I needed some time to settle down with my bowling action," Ajmal said. "I could have persisted for the national selection earlier but it might have been a risky case as we have seen [Mohammad] Hafeez is reported again after been cleared. So it's a matter of getting things right and wait for the right time."

Cricket is cruel sometimes: Ajmal

Ajmal’s career was going great, but when he faced a ban from international bowling in September of last year, things went downhill from there. He was cleared after remodelling his action – which was five months later – but the ferocity in his bowling was just not the same.

"Cricket is cruel sometimes but I always said one can't relax," Ajmal said. "People forget the good and make the bad part our defining feature. There are ups and downs in cricket and you can't deny the fact every day is a new day and you can't be taking five or ten wickets in every match. We are human and its natural to have good days and bad days.

"Regardless of being reported, there were odds that I might have faced a dip in form, could have struggled taking wickets with previous action as well and then what? Actually it's not really a case that I am not effective, it's a matter of form and confidence that I just need to hit and I have started to get flow.

His stint with Worcestershire hasn’t been particularly successful as well, with him taking only 16 wickets in almost the whole season. The meteoric rise of Yasir Shah and Zufiqar Babbar has also made Ajmal less than indispensable.

"I know I am not able to get wickets in four-day cricket maybe because the pitches [in England] are green, soft and it rains a lot but at the same time I am still a better limited-overs bowler and taking wickets in the shorter format. I was assured that I will be considered and won't be discarded. I also understand that Yasir and Zulfi are doing very well and I don't want to dislodge their place but I think there is some room for me in limited-overs cricket and I will prove that in the T20 cup in Pakistan."

Ajmal’s worth to be evaluated next week: PCB

Rasheed acknowledged that Ajmal wants to be given a chance, and said that the doors are never closed to anyone willing to prove their worth. But each player has to prove that they are worth being selected, and Ajmal will have to do so in the upcoming matches.

"I understand Ajmal has been a No. 1 bowler and has been a great servant for Pakistan cricket and we never wanted to discard him. But we want an effective Ajmal and we are always open for any discussion with him."

"We are not asking him to retire or stay away but he needs to realise the situation realistically where he stands and what is the requirement," Rasheed said. "We have created such an environment for anyone to come to us and discuss with us about anything. But at the same time he has an opportunity to play in the T20 cup next week and there we will consider his performance."

The national T20 main round begins next week in Rawalpindi.