How will Saeed Ajmal be remembered?

[MenInG]

Divided opinions but he had a big impact on our results.

But how will we remember him?

 

[Mueez]

As a great bowler who made Pakistan's 'dark' years glorious

 

[Hitman]

A lot of Pakistani fans will revere him for sure. Fans from rest of the cricketing world? We all now how they will remember him.

 

[Azzurri]

champion bowler

 

[Sadevdesai]

He chucked when he got all those wickets also ..... sooooo how legitimate those wickets were, just because he wasn't called ?????? If you commit a crime and nobody saw you, does that mean you didn't do it ????????

 

[Sirris]

I will remember him as someone who always looked cheerful on the field and gave his best. A truly innocent character by heart. I can't read his mind or attention, so I can't say whether he knew he was pushing the boundaries.
Unfortunately his flaws weren't exposed earlier on in his career due to whatever reason, including ofcourse the incompetency on PCB's part to provide better coaching to upcoming players. After his ban he tried too hard but could not make a comeback, since it's always difficult to reinvent yourself as a professional cricketer after decades of old habit.

There will also be a painful memory of a big disappointment when he was given the final over in a t20 WC semi final against Mike Hussey.

 

[Hasan123]

Some Pakistan fans will remember him fondly. The majority of the cricketing world will remember him as a chucker.

 

[Sirris]

He chucked when he got all those wickets also ..... sooooo how legitimate those wickets were, just because he wasn't called ?????? If you commit a crime and nobody saw you, does that mean you didn't do it ????????

To me his accomplishments will always remain tainted for sure and I won't be watching highlights of his best performances anytime soon.

However, if you are not aware that you are committing a crime and other's also aren't able to point out whether you are committing a crime, can you then really be condemned the same way a true criminal is?

It's not like as if nobody saw Ajmal bowling over the years. He wasn't wearing Harry Potter's invisibility clock. Everybody saw him all over the world. Live and on TV.

I can't read minds so I won't speculate on whether he knew he was crossing the limits or not. I guess when you have been bowling the same way for decades and nobody tells you anything then you get used to that motion and feeling and see it as the norm.

The fault lies on both sides. The accusers and the accused. Can not condemn one, without condemning the other.

 

[Bilal7]

Definitely a great given his superb performances in LOIs and very good achievements in test cricket. He was the #1 spinner in the world for a period of four years, across formats, and helped Pakistan win countless games. What further enhanced his legacy was that he was super entertaining, complete with a memorable action and a jolly personality.

For me, he remains my favorite spin bowler and one of my favorite cricketers, someone who made the game of cricket exciting for me and for that, he'll always be remembered fondly. His end was tragic but that will not erase the magic he created on the field of play nor the resulting moments of happiness that Pakistani fans shared with him.

A fantastic bowler, a wonderful man. I have nothing but respect for him and wish him all the best for the future. Would love to meet the magician someday and thank him in person.

idone

 

[Bilal7]

He chucked when he got all those wickets also ..... sooooo how legitimate those wickets were, just because he wasn't called ?????? If you commit a crime and nobody saw you, does that mean you didn't do it ????????

Except that the ICC was well-aware of what was going on and they let him bowl because to them, he was bowling legally. Ajmal did not bowl a single illegal delivery because he did not bowl after he was banned from bowling, up until he fixed his action.

It does not matter what nobodies on the internet say, Ajmal bowled legally according to the ICC and that is all that matters.

 

[Prince of Pakistan]

Champion bowler. Won so many games for Pakistan single handedly even when our batting capitulated.

Everyone loved him. I remember how the Sky team loved talking to Ajmal.

 

[babajee]

Legend, and a great human being. Sad how he gets no respect from anyone.

 

[Abid Z]

Some players have left the game,retired and become bigger and greater human beings. I think Ajmals best years may be ahead of him. He will always be remembered as somebody who gave his best to his country.

 

[King-Misbah]

Legend! He was done over by the ICE with the rule change.

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

A great guy but a chucker.

But it would be unfair to equate chuckers with cheats.

 

[Savak]

A patriotic whole hearted jazbati passionate cricketer who served his country very well from 2009 to 2014. Played a key role in our 2009 T-20 WC win, our 2011 WC showing, Misbah's captaincy and test rankings from 2010 to 2014. Was the no 1 ODI and T-20 bowler and was instrumental in our ability to dry up runs while taking wickets at the same time from Overs 10-40 and a reliable bowler at the death. The fact that he bowled the most amount of overs from 2009 to 2014 is testamount to him always giving his 100% on the field.

I hope he now moves on to other things and finds peace, it would not have been easy for him from 2015 onwards where he was disposed off like a garbage bag by everyone.

 

[Savak]

To all those losers diminishing his achievements because of chucking, i challenge them to chuck in international cricket and still produce the same results.

 

[mohan11]

Would like to see his non chucking stats. It was shameful on the part of ICC to allowed such a chucker to play that long.

 

[WengerOut]

He was a chucker and he himself was aware proven by the fact that he bowled with full sleeves to hide it as Max as possible.

 

[Buffet]

To all those losers diminishing his achievements because of chucking, i challenge them to chuck in international cricket and still produce the same results.

Agree here, he was the topmost chucker and that's not an easy task.

 

[Titan24]

All those crying about chucking and stuff, you should disregard Murlitharan's and and Harbhajan's wickets tally as well then.

Ajmal action was changed a bit when he debuted in international cricket. His action was one of the reasons it took him so long to come into international cricket where he debuted at the age of 29 and his action was pretty clean then. You guys can have a look at his earlier action.

While Harbhajan and Murlitharan were drafted into their respective teams at a very young age and they were blatant chuckers even then.

Yes Ajmal's action changed a bit with his age and lack of energy in his shoulders however rules are to be implemented by ICC and across the board which they were unable to execute properly. Never seen any other sports body which declares something illegal or establishes a rule and then doesnt monitor it for decades.

Either the rule changed underhand post Murlitharan retirement or it was never implemented before.

 

[Titan24]

He totally played under the rules allowed by ICC. He bowled the way ICC allowed him to bowl, so his wickets to me are as clean as any other bowler.

 

[AlizeeFan]

All those crying about chucking and stuff, you should disregard Murlitharan's and and Harbhajan's wickets tally as well then.

Ajmal action was changed a bit when he debuted in international cricket. His action was one of the reasons it took him so long to come into international cricket where he debuted at the age of 29 and his action was pretty clean then. You guys can have a look at his earlier action.

While Harbhajan and Murlitharan were drafted into their respective teams at a very young age and they were blatant chuckers even then.

Yes Ajmal's action changed a bit with his age and lack of energy in his shoulders however rules are to be implemented by ICC and across the board which they were unable to execute properly. Never seen any other sports body which declares something illegal or establishes a rule and then doesnt monitor it for decades.

Either the rule changed underhand post Murlitharan retirement or it was never implemented before.

Thing is whether you dislike it or not, even if you're a fan I don't think it will be easy to just skip that thought of him chucking so blatantly. That's what thread is all about. How will you remember him.

What's worst is that he lied about him not being able to bowl without chucking and the moment he was banned he somehow magically found clean action.

 

[James]

Talented and skilful bowler but with an asterisk next to his name.

 

[MenInG]

He was our hero when he was winning us matches. Nothing should change.

 

[Mamoon]

A cheat who ruined the careers of legitimate spinners like Zulfiqar Babar, who could not get into the side in his peak years because Ajmal was pelting the ball like a stone. Apart from a small section of Pakistani fans, he has no legacy for the majority of the cricket players and observers.

Nonetheless, good luck for his future endeavours. He seems to be interesting in helping out young bowlers with illegal actions, and it is something that he owes Pakistan and the PCB for letting them down. If he can stop the future Saeed Ajmals from representing Pakistan, it will be some redemption I suppose.

 

[Savak]

A cheat who ruined the careers of legitimate spinners like Zulfiqar Babar, who could not get into the side in his peak years because Ajmal was pelting the ball like a stone. Apart from a small section of Pakistani fans, he has no legacy for the majority of the cricket players and observers.

Nonetheless, good luck for his future endeavours. He seems to be interesting in helping out young bowlers with illegal actions, and it is something that he owes Pakistan and the PCB for letting them down. If he can stop the future Saeed Ajmals from representing Pakistan, it will be some redemption I suppose.

Ajmal did not ruin Zulfiqar's career, Zulfiqar's mediocrity did. Not the batsmen's fault that they sucked against Ajmal, good batsmen can play difficult bowlers chucking or not case being Sangakarra.

 

[Mamoon]

Ajmal did not ruin Zulfiqar's career, Zulfiqar's mediocrity did. Not the batsmen's fault that they sucked against Ajmal, good batsmen can play difficult bowlers chucking or not case being Sangakarra.

Zulfiqar Babar was a top spinner in his prime. The best left-arm orthodox we have produced, and his prime years were wasted in domestic cricket because an illegal bowler was stealing the show. He was no Herath, but he could easily have had 300+ wickets in Test cricket.

When he got picked in 2013, he was already past his prime. In addition, ignoring him for the mediocre sidekick Rehman was probably an ever bigger blunder by the PCB.

 

[Mamoon]

Not the batsmen's fault that they sucked against Ajmal, good batsmen can play difficult bowlers chucking or not case being Sangakarra.

Sangakkara is one of the greatest batsmen the game has ever seen, and he did tame him. However, Ajmal has proved to be a deeply mediocre spinner with a legal action, and every Tom, Dick and Harry has carted him around. A lot of international batsmen who fell to his javelins would have dominate him with a legal action.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

The man who made SRT (one of the best ever playing spin) look uneasy on crease. Not many have been able to do so He was merciless against England the #1 side with likes of Cook/KP who had tonked India in their den with doctored pitches and all

As far as chucking allegations are concerned: haters will always hate (that's their reason of existence I guess). When are likes Harbhajan and Ashwin getting their action checked? Oh wait...



Ajmal was a magician! Loved each of his spells I was fortunate to witness live

 

[WengerOut]

The man who made SRT (one of the best ever playing spin) look uneasy on crease. Not many have been able to do so He was merciless against England the #1 side with likes of Cook/KP who had tonked India in their den with doctored pitches and all

As far as chucking allegations are concerned: haters will always hate (that's their reason of existence I guess). When are likes Harbhajan and Ashwin getting their action checked? Oh wait...

Creating problems for a 38 year old legend
whose reflexes were waning , with the help of blatant chucking: Classic example of clutching the last straw.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Creating problems for a 38 year old legend
whose reflexes were waning , with the help of blatant chucking: Classic example of clutching the last straw.

Do not get defensive. SRT is a legend and arguably greatest player of spin ever! But the fact remains he did have some problems. Nothing wrong with that. Ajmal deserves the praise here

 

[MenInG]

Some players have left the game,retired and become bigger and greater human beings. I think Ajmals best years may be ahead of him. He will always be remembered as somebody who gave his best to his country.

very nicely put.

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

Do not get defensive. SRT is a legend and arguably greatest player of spin ever! But the fact remains he did have some problems. Nothing wrong with that. Ajmal deserves the praise here

Sachin was already on the decline after 2011. If you really think Ajmal would have troubled Tendulkar when he was in his prime then all power to you. He dominated Murali and Warne, no reason why Ajmal would cause him problems. Owning a geriatric Tendulkar is no achievement.

Even Monty Panesar and Nathan Lyon troubled him late in his career but you don't see Pakistani and English fans celebrating that. We need something to cling to since he was proven to be a chucker and the fact that he got Tendulkar out a few times at the end of his career is enough for us to celebrate it as some unprecedented feat.

 

[WhenSultansBowled]

Sachin was already on the decline after 2011. If you really think Ajmal would have troubled Tendulkar when he was in his prime then all power to you. He dominated Murali and Warne, no reason why Ajmal would cause him problems. Owning a geriatric Tendulkar is no achievement.

Even Monty Panesar and Nathan Lyon troubled him late in his career but you don't see Pakistani and English fans celebrating that. We need something to cling to since he was proven to be a chucker and the fact that he got Tendulkar out a few times at the end of his career is enough for us to celebrate it as some unprecedented feat.

That's a bit absurd. So Hansie Cronje (or however you write his name) troubled him at his prime Should SA celebrate it?

SRT is a legend but there are more legends out there. If he had trouble facing a bowler then he had it and that's it.

Anyways, this thread ain't about SRT v Ajmal. So y'all win. SRT was the uber batsman and would have pulled the planet earth outta solar system (if he were tall enough )!

As I said earlier, some get the ICC bowling test and some don't. Hide behind this hypocrisy. But we (the real Pakistanis) ain't playing The Emperor's New Clothes game with you. Let's call things for what they are. If we see legs shaking we'll say legs shook

 

[Cuts_and_cuts_hard]

That's a bit absurd. So Hansie Cronje (or however you write his name) troubled him at his prime Should SA celebrate it?

SRT is a legend but there are more legends out there. If he had trouble facing a bowler then he had it and that's it.

Anyways, this thread ain't about SRT v Ajmal. So y'all win. SRT was the uber batsman and would have pulled the planet earth outta solar system (if he were tall enough )!

As I said earlier, some get the ICC bowling test and some don't. Hide behind this hypocrisy. But we (the real Pakistanis) ain't playing The Emperor's New Clothes game with you. Let's call things for what they are. If we see legs shaking we'll say legs shook

Lol of course Sachin had trouble facing Cronje, he said it himself.

Point is, Sachin had trouble facing Ajmal because he was on the decline, not because of anything special Ajmal did. You still did not answer my question about why people donot say that Panesar and Lyon owned Sachin? The reason is that they gave him trouble when Sachin was on decline, just like Ajmal did. Owning a batsman at the end of his career is no great achievement.

If you want to celebrate a great spinner from our country who truly did have the wood over the great Sachin, it would be Saqlain Mushtaq. Saqi invented the doosra, a delivery Ajmal perverted. He didn't chuck. And he got Sachin out repeatedly in 1999 series when Sachin was at his absolute peak period and won us one of our most memorable tests against padosis despite Sachin playing an ATG knock. That is worthy of celebration and acclaim. Yet we keep talking about Ajmal troubling 38 year old Sachin with failing reflexes as though it is something amazing.

Hope you got the point.

 

[Hitman]

Sachin was already on the decline after 2011. If you really think Ajmal would have troubled Tendulkar when he was in his prime then all power to you. He dominated Murali and Warne, no reason why Ajmal would cause him problems. Owning a geriatric Tendulkar is no achievement.

Even Monty Panesar and Nathan Lyon troubled him late in his career but you don't see Pakistani and English fans celebrating that. We need something to cling to since he was proven to be a chucker and the fact that he got Tendulkar out a few times at the end of his career is enough for us to celebrate it as some unprecedented feat.

Just once, that too after Sachin scored 52 in that match. India went on to win the match. The only other time both of them faced each other was in the 2011 WC match.

 

[Titan24]

Thing is whether you dislike it or not, even if you're a fan I don't think it will be easy to just skip that thought of him chucking so blatantly. That's what thread is all about. How will you remember him.

What's worst is that he lied about him not being able to bowl without chucking and the moment he was banned he somehow magically found clean action.

With your logic same will be the case with Harbhajan and Murli's fan.

The clean action you are talking about which he came back with was a round armish one and wasnt close from the ear action like before or like other spinners so he was unable to bowl with straigher arm within same action as before.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Great bowler in his prime, a chucker following the change in testing criteria. He was a great character for world cricket so loved having him around before the ICC clampdown.

 

[Zahid87]

The Ajmal post clampdown will always sour his image for me.

Yes, it was unfortunate for him that his action was now deemed illegal by the ICC...but then he seemed to go on and on about it for months afterwards, crying at the unfairness of it all. It came across as if he felt that the whole world owed him a living.

He should have seen the writing on the wall, and tried to retire gracefully - he could have even come up with a face saving excuse that his 'injury' will forever prevent him from bowling properly, and moved on. But he kept trying to come back, kicking and screaming, despite no longer being the bowler he once was.

Glad that he has finally accepted that he can probably no longer cut it...but disappointing to see that he could not resist talking to the media again, with all his old wails and complaints.

 

[Syed1]

A champion bowler who had never-say-die attitude. Was my favourite Pakistani cricketer post 2010. When Ajmal was bowling you knew something was going to happen. Who can forget how he bamboozled Sachin twice in two balls, first DRS saved him from a touch and go LBW and then he was nearly stumped off the next ball.

Ajmal has been succeeded by another bowler who has the same qualities in Yasir. I'm just glad that Shah is a leggie and it is incredibly hard for a leggie to chuck otherwise ICC would have found a way to ban him by now.

 

[Amir]

The Ajmal post clampdown will always sour his image for me.

Yes, it was unfortunate for him that his action was now deemed illegal by the ICC...but then he seemed to go on and on about it for months afterwards, crying at the unfairness of it all. It came across as if he felt that the whole world owed him a living.

He should have seen the writing on the wall, and tried to retire gracefully - he could have even come up with a face saving excuse that his 'injury' will forever prevent him from bowling properly, and moved on. But he kept trying to come back, kicking and screaming, despite no longer being the bowler he once was.

Glad that he has finally accepted that he can probably no longer cut it...but disappointing to see that he could not resist talking to the media again, with all his old wails and complaints.

My viewpoint as well. Will fondly remember him for that period between 2009-2014. Chuck or no chuck, our bowling was horrible back then and he carried it all by himself with pressure.

For all the crying Indians here, Harbhajan chucked (just got dropped before ICC changed their testing method, same method that cleared him but banned his doosra) but no one has an issue with that. That 2001 test series vs Australia look suspect now by your own admission.

 

[Markhor]

Ajmal's legacy will be tarnished as he did chuck. However, if you're going to put an asterisk to his name, you have to do so for Sunil Narine, Kane Williamson and all those other spinners who were found guilty of chucking after the ICC's clampdown.

I don't blame the player as the ICC cleared him under the old testing procedures which for years clearly was proven to be inadequate.

He was instrumental in our Test and LOI successes between 2009-2014. He formed a potent spin trio with Afridi and Hafeez for a while, and he was a likeable character full of enthusiasm.

What leaves a sour taste is his lying about how he couldn't straighten his arm due to an accident.

 

[CricFan2012]

My viewpoint as well. Will fondly remember him for that period between 2009-2014. Chuck or no chuck, our bowling was horrible back then and he carried it all by himself with pressure.

For all the crying Indians here, Harbhajan chucked (just got dropped before ICC changed their testing method, same method that cleared him but banned his doosra) but no one has an issue with that. That 2001 test series vs Australia look suspect now by your own admission.

One wrong doesn't make a right, Ajmal sympathizers need to stop with this trumpesque whataboutism already

 

[Savak]

Zulfiqar Babar was a top spinner in his prime. The best left-arm orthodox we have produced, and his prime years were wasted in domestic cricket because an illegal bowler was stealing the show. He was no Herath, but he could easily have had 300+ wickets in Test cricket.

When he got picked in 2013, he was already past his prime. In addition, ignoring him for the mediocre sidekick Rehman was probably an ever bigger blunder by the PCB.

No he wasn't, domestic performances mean squat, international performances are the real deal and i am sorry to say that zulfiqar babar never once looked international quality in Pakistani colors, there are no ifs and butts in international cricket, only actual performances and zulfiqar had enough chances after 2013 to show glimpses of what he could do and i saw no evidence that babar was capable of doing a better job than Rehman did partnering with Ajmal.

 

[Savak]

Sangakkara is one of the greatest batsmen the game has ever seen, and he did tame him. However, Ajmal has proved to be a deeply mediocre spinner with a legal action, and every Tom, Dick and Harry has carted him around. A lot of international batsmen who fell to his javelins would have dominate him with a legal action.

Or maybe you are forgetting that Ajmal was past his prime as well when he changed his action? If you watch Ajmal in 2008, 2009 his action was pretty legal and he still troubled players, the wear and tear of bowling so many overs b/w 2009 to 2014 is what ruined his action in the long run.

 

[jagatk]

He was our hero when he was winning us matches. Nothing should change.

Don't think so, armstrong won 7 tour de france but given the fact he won it via cheating that's how he is remembered same goes for ajmal, heck most indians don't have nice things to say about azharuddin given how things ended for him. How you achieved what you achieved is as important as what you achieved.

 

[CricFan2012]

Don't think so, armstrong won 7 tour de france but given the fact he won it via cheating that's how he is remembered same goes for ajmal, heck most indians don't have nice things to say about azharuddin given how things ended for him. How you achieved what you achieved is as important as what you achieved.

We welcomed Amir back and turned a blind eye during Qayyum reports, don't expect that to change in this corrupt country

 

[CricFan2012]

Great bowler in his prime, a chucker following the change in testing criteria. He was a great character for world cricket so loved having him around before the ICC clampdown.

Lance Armstrong was also such a great sportsman during his prime, too bad he was found out by the authorities to be doping. /s

 

[ManFan]

Lance Armstrong was also such a great sportsman during his prime, too bad he was found out by the authorities to be doping. /s

It doesn't matter if you are guilty or not, only if you get caught. Funny world this.

 

[CricFan2012]

It doesn't matter if you are guilty or not, only if you get caught. Funny world this.

It's funny seeing double standards and open bias like this, it's also ridiculous because of the excuses chucking sympathizers give, either talk about Ashwin or blame ICC Never blame the culprit, same in Pakistan, blame Israel and foreign agents but fail to recognize that the problem stems from within

 

[Varun]

I like to remember people for something unique: I'll remember Ajmal as a cricketer who wore full sleeves while bowling, but half sleeves while batting.

 

[Bilal7]

Don't think so, armstrong won 7 tour de france but given the fact he won it via cheating that's how he is remembered same goes for ajmal, heck most indians don't have nice things to say about azharuddin given how things ended for him. How you achieved what you achieved is as important as what you achieved.

Way to miss the point.

Doping = Intentional
Chucking = Unintentional

Not the same thing, which is why the ICC has not erased Ajmal's records from the history books.

 

[ManFan]

It's funny seeing double standards and open bias like this, it's also ridiculous because of the excuses chucking sympathizers give, either talk about Ashwin or blame ICC Never blame the culprit, same in Pakistan, blame Israel and foreign agents but fail to recognize that the problem stems from within

I never said Ajmal was innocent. I was referring to your Lance Armstrong comment. Ashwin and Harbhajan are innocent because they have been tested and cleared. Ajmal was cleared and than found guilty. So it is unfair to state that his wickets he attained before his August 2014 ban were false.

 

[Syed1]

I like to remember people for something unique: I'll remember Ajmal as a cricketer who wore full sleeves while bowling, but half sleeves while batting.

Think of it this way... while bowling theoretically elbow doesn't have to move beyond 15 degrees so full sleeves won't be restrictive, but while batting you have to completely bend elbows with each shot and full sleeves will be very restrictive. This proves without a shadow of a doubt that Ajmal was clean.


#Checkmate

#Thank you come again

 

[jagatk]

Way to miss the point.

Doping = Intentional
Chucking = Unintentional

Not the same thing, which is why the ICC has not erased Ajmal's records from the history books.

Does it matter though, cheating is cheating, only way you get away with it is if you don't get caught which both of them did. Also you guys are saying he didn't chuck early on in his career but later icc found him guilty of chucking, either he chucked his entire career which means he is a cheat intentional or otherwise or he started chucking later on which is way worse.

 

[Cpt. Rishwat]

Does it matter though, cheating is cheating, only way you get away with it is if you don't get caught which both of them did. Also you guys are saying he didn't chuck early on in his career but later icc found him guilty of chucking, either he chucked his entire career which means he is a cheat intentional or otherwise or he started chucking later on which is way worse.

Ajmal was cleared by the ICC prior to 2014, so if he was cheating then the ICC was complicit. Clearly they recognise his efforts before that as his records remain intact. Cheats get their records expunged, a great example would be the Olympics.

Use logic not emotion on this and you'll come to the same conclusion.

 

[Bilal7]

Does it matter though, cheating is cheating, only way you get away with it is if you don't get caught which both of them did. Also you guys are saying he didn't chuck early on in his career but later icc found him guilty of chucking, either he chucked his entire career which means he is a cheat intentional or otherwise or he started chucking later on which is way worse.

Let me tell you how it is:

1) Saeed Ajmal was cleared by the ICC back in 2009. His action was found well within the legal limits after serial whiner, Shane Watson, started crying after Ajju broke the laws of physics in front of him with ball in hand.
2) Over the next four to five years, Ajmal destroyed all comers and arguably became the best bowler in the world, across formats and definitely the best spinner.
3) Then, in 2014, the ICC completely changed their testing methods and asked the umpires to be more vigilant in calling bowlers. Ajmal was found guilty of bowling well above the limits and was banned. He did not bowl a single delivery after his action was found guilty.

If Ajmal did not bowl a single delivery after his action was found guilty, how exactly is he a cheat? If he is a cheat, why have the ICC not taken him down from their record books? What do you say about the issue of Hafeez, who has been bowled, found guilty of chucking, bowled some more and again found guilty of chucking and now he's planning on making a bowling comeback yet again.

Comparing this situation to doping reeks of ignorance.

 

[asfandyar]

He chucked when he got all those wickets also ..... sooooo how legitimate those wickets were, just because he wasn't called ?????? If you commit a crime and nobody saw you, does that mean you didn't do it ????????

Sweden just made niqab / burqa illegal. Does that make anyone who wore it before the laws were in place criminals?

 

[CricketCartoons]

For carrying the bowling during Pakistan's difficult period.
For being plucky and a character.
For being found ordinary after action was corrected.

 

[Jabo]

A cheater who did us proud

Lol

Won us many games
ICC should have tested him earlier
They did
He passed

 

[Pete Rose]

Pakistan's second best off-spinner.

 

[Saj]

I will always remember Saeed Ajmal as a man who whenever I met him had a big smile on his face and always enjoyed a joke.

I always remember he was sat in my car at Old Trafford when he was playing for Worcestershire and we were about to do an interview. Saeed started brushing his hair, sorting out his shirt, jumper, sorting out his eyebrows and making sure he looked perfect. I said to him what are you doing, we are only doing an audio interview not video. He was a bit embarrassed, but as always a smile wasn't far away.

He always gave 100%. He was a cricketer who has always been a good role-model and avoied controversies such as spot-fixing.

I met him in 2010 after the spot-fixing fiasco and he was almost in tears and said that he couldn't believe what had happened. He felt so let down by the trio as they were all close to him.

A patriotic man. A man who played cricket with pride and a cricketer who I will always appreciate.

 

[CricFan2012]

I never said Ajmal was innocent. I was referring to your Lance Armstrong comment. Ashwin and Harbhajan are innocent because they have been tested and cleared. Ajmal was cleared and than found guilty. So it is unfair to state that his wickets he attained before his August 2014 ban were false.

sorry bro, it wasn't directed at you

 

[Raja Sab]

one of the best off spinners in the history of this game

 

[Raja Sab]

A patriotic whole hearted jazbati passionate cricketer who served his country very well from 2009 to 2014. Played a key role in our 2009 T-20 WC win, our 2011 WC showing, Misbah's captaincy and test rankings from 2010 to 2014. Was the no 1 ODI and T-20 bowler and was instrumental in our ability to dry up runs while taking wickets at the same time from Overs 10-40 and a reliable bowler at the death. The fact that he bowled the most amount of overs from 2009 to 2014 is testamount to him always giving his 100% on the field.

I hope he now moves on to other things and finds peace, it would not have been easy for him from 2015 onwards where he was disposed off like a garbage bag by everyone.

To all those losers diminishing his achievements because of chucking, i challenge them to chuck in international cricket and still produce the same results.

brilliantly said

 

[CricFan2012]

To all those losers diminishing his achievements because of chucking, i challenge them to chuck in international cricket and still produce the same results.

You made your point bro, chucking is a harder form of cheating

 

[Donal Cozzie]

I voted poor.

To call him a cheat is incorrect. While he was obviously chucking for years before his ban, that is the fault of the ICC and not him, and many many spinners were doing it. Fact is per the law he was bowling legally at the time, even if its obvious he likely wasnt.

Had he returned from his ban and been successful he'd be remembered well, but as is, the vast majority of non Pakistani fans will see a spinner who benefitted from the ICC's total disregard for their own bowling laws and then was well below par when he returned with a legal action after the ICC got their act together and clamped down on chuckers.

Additionally from every interview I've seen he comes off as fairly bitter and self absorbed.

 

[jagatk]

Ajmal was cleared by the ICC prior to 2014, so if he was cheating then the ICC was complicit. Clearly they recognise his efforts before that as his records remain intact. Cheats get their records expunged, a great example would be the Olympics.

Use logic not emotion on this and you'll come to the same conclusion.

Cricket is not olympics and chucking is not doping even though it is a form of cheating, we have match fixers like butt, azharuddin, amir and when proven guilty of one of match being fixed by them no record has been expunged or result removed, so this record not expunged is a rubbish argument.

 

[Mamoon]

Or maybe you are forgetting that Ajmal was past his prime as well when he changed his action? If you watch Ajmal in 2008, 2009 his action was pretty legal and he still troubled players, the wear and tear of bowling so many overs b/w 2009 to 2014 is what ruined his action in the long run.

His action has never been legal. ICC weren't that bothered about illegal actions at that time, and the likes of Ajmal, Senanayake, Narine and Harbhajan etc. bowled without a worry. However, it is true that his action became a completely joke around 2013-2014.

 

[Zahid87]

I voted poor.

To call him a cheat is incorrect. While he was obviously chucking for years before his ban, that is the fault of the ICC and not him, and many many spinners were doing it. Fact is per the law he was bowling legally at the time, even if its obvious he likely wasnt.

Had he returned from his ban and been successful he'd be remembered well, but as is, the vast majority of non Pakistani fans will see a spinner who benefitted from the ICC's total disregard for their own bowling laws and then was well below par when he returned with a legal action after the ICC got their act together and clamped down on chuckers.

Additionally from every interview I've seen he comes off as fairly bitter and self absorbed.

Pretty much agree with everything you wrote.

 

[Savak]

/

You made your point bro, chucking is a harder form of cheating

My point was that if it is so easy to chuck in international cricket and get so many wickets in return then why doesn't the average Mary Joe do it?

 

[Savak]

His action has never been legal. ICC weren't that bothered about illegal actions at that time, and the likes of Ajmal, Senanayake, Narine and Harbhajan etc. bowled without a worry. However, it is true that his action became a completely joke around 2013-2014.

His action from 2008-2009 and then in 2010-11 was still somewhat eye pleasing. The workload he endured in all those years eventually caught up with him and his action from 2013-14 was a far cry from what it had been in 2008-09.

 

[CricFan2012]

/

My point was that if it is so easy to chuck in international cricket and get so many wickets in return then why doesn't the average Mary Joe do it?

Because the average Mary Joe has some self respect and know that cheating isn't the way to go about things

 

[Savak]

Because the average Mary Joe has some self respect and know that cheating isn't the way to go about things

Or maybe they can't be successful even if they wanted to cheat and chuck?

 

[Wristy_Shuffler]

I'll remember him as a great. I don't really understand the hurt people feel over his action. The guy was so good, he basically forced the ICC to change their laws and everyone who knows their cricket knows that it was pressure from humiliated elitist white cricketers who were bamboozled by his bowling that forced the ICC to change their stance on unconventional bowling actions - case in point being Hafeez, same action since '03 and then gets called a chucker after the ICC introduce their 'new' testing methods.

This is a typical pattern really - Murali was treated like a criminal by the Aussies, Ajmal after making the then no.1 cricket team look like pub cricketers faced similar treatment, W&W called cheats after making England whimper with reverse swing.

And let's not forget, whatever means they used to id bowlers who were breaking the law and those who weren't/aren't were kept a secret unlike the previous testing methods. Also the UoWA were critical of these new 'testing' methods.

Senenayake also said as much that the minds of the people testing him were made up before the Test and every ball he bowled that was deemed legal, the people testing were apparently such experts that they were able to say 'no, that's not how you bowl in international cricket, bowl it again'. Who were these people? How well did they know their cricket? My guess is they were just some sheep in lab coats sent by the ICC with one simple instruction - To get rid of certain cricketers.

His days were numbered after he was compared to Swann and came out as undoubtledly the best offie of his time. Ajmal is a champion whlile Swann on the other hand will mostly be remembered for leaving his team out to dry when things didn't go his way.

 

[Ball Blazer]

Saeed Ajmal delivered a sensational bowling performance, wreaking havoc on the opposition with his trademark spin. He claimed 6 crucial wickets for just 16 runs in his 3.5 overs, boasting an impressive economy rate of 4.17. Ajmal's spell included the dismissals of D'Arcy Short, Ben Dunk, Ben Cutting, Dan Christian, Steve O’Keefe, and Peter Siddle—effectively breaking the backbone of the batting lineup. His clever variations and relentless accuracy made him the standout bowler in the innings, playing a key role in skittling the opposition out for a mere 74 runs in just 11.5 overs.

 

[captain.hansolo]

Do Pakistan cricket supporters rate him higher than Saqlain Mustaq? Or Mustaq Mohammed? Or Mustaq Ahmed?

I never saw MM bowl, but saqlain I felt was like the Bumrah of the opposition, get though his overs and let him take his 2 for 40, it would be silly to attack him. Whereas Mustaq Ahmed I felt was someone I fancied my chances against… unreasonable but it is how I felt, he didn’t seem the least bit intimidating.

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Saeed Ajmal achieved the milestone during Pakistan Champions’ league-stage match against Australia at the Grace Road here when he picked up six wickets for just 16 in 3.5 overs, becoming the first-ever bowler to register a five-wicket haul in the tournament’s history.