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.