Explorer

Would Have Taken 1,000 Wickets If I Played For India: Ex-Pak Spinner

The 45-year-old made this massive statement while speaking on a podcast.

Former Pakistan cricketers often create headlines for their statement on Pakistan and Indian cricket. And this time around too, one of Pakistan's key contributors in the spin department has made a massive claim. In a massive statement, he has said that had he played for India and had the backing of a powerful board like the Board of Contol for Cricket in India (BCCI), he would have fetched 1000 wickets in his career. The ex-cricketer in question here is none other than Saeed Ajmal.

The 45-year-old made this statement while speaking on a podcast. It is pertinent to note that Ajmal had gone on to achieve the number 1 ranking in the world in ODIs and T20Is.  However, a ban was imposed by the ICC on his bowling after which he was never the same bowler. He last played an ODI for the Men in Green in 2015.

"I would have taken 1,000 wickets by now. To be honest, if I played for India, I would have 1,000 wickets. I was a bowler who took 100 wickets every year. Almost every year in my international career, I took 100 wickets," Ajmal said on the Nadir Ali podcast.

"From 2012 to 2014, I took 326 wickets. (James) Anderson was second with 186 wickets. See the difference - 326 and 186 wickets. Every year, more than 100 wickets," the former off-spinner added.

The ex-spinner said that his action was cleared in 2009 but when he became successful and they had to find a way to stop him, they changed the rules as there was no other way to prevent him from taking wickets.

"They should have stopped me in 2009 only. But they allowed me to play. After I got 448 wickets, they realized there needs to be a way to stop him, and so they did what they did. I was world number one bowler when I was banned from bowling," Ajmal stated.

Overall, Ajmal played 35 Tests, 113 ODIs and 64 T20Is for Pakistan, scalping 178, 184 and 85 wickets in them respectively.

View More
Advertisement
Advertisement
25°C
New Delhi
Rain: 100mm
Humidity: 97%
Wind: WNW 47km/h
See Today's Weather
powered by
Accu Weather
Advertisement

Top Headlines

Mumbai: Ferry With 85 Passengers Onboard Capsizes Near Gateway of India, 2 Dead, 80 Rescued
Mumbai: Ferry With 85 Passengers Onboard Capsizes Near Gateway of India, 2 Dead, 80 Rescued
'Extremely Condemnable': Shah Hits Back At Congress For Distorting His Comments On Ambedkar
'Extremely Condemnable': Shah Hits Back At Congress For Distorting His Comments On Ambedkar
'PM Modi Should Sack Amit Shah By Midnight If...': Congress' Big Attack On Centre Over Ambedkar Issue
'PM Modi Should Sack Amit Shah By Midnight If...': Congress' Big Attack On Centre Over Ambedkar Issue
Protesting Farmers Call For 'Punjab Bandh' On December 30 To Press For Demands
Protesting Farmers Call For 'Punjab Bandh' On December 30 To Press For Demands
Advertisement
ABP Premium

Videos

Priyanka Gandhi's bag creates a stir in politics, listen to what the Congress MP says in answer to the questions | ABP NewsParliament Session: Mallikarjun Kharge's allegation, 'Amit Shah insulted Baba Saheb Ambedkar' | ABP newsParliament Session: What did Shah say in Parliament after which Congress accused him of insulting AmbedkarParliament Session: 'Let me tell the 54-year-old youth who wants to change the Constitution...' Amit Shah

Photo Gallery

Embed widget