wicket in 22.3 overs and conceded runs at 6.57. He was dropped for the final ODI of the three-match series against Bangladesh, and subsequently sat out of the Khulna Test as well. Ajmal, however, said there was a plan in place and he needed time to regain his confidence as a bowler.
Ajmal has been a vital part of Pakistan’s success. Since 2011, he has contributed a third of the team’s wickets - 145 off 570. In his absence, however, Zulfiqar and Yasir have picked up the slack. They had contributed 14 wickets apiece during the team’s series win over Australia in the UAE and were again trusted to lead the slow-bowling threat in the drawn Khulna Test.
“I think it’s their right to play ahead of me,” he said. “They have done great without me and spare a thought about Khulna Test where pitch was slow enough to kill the spin otherwise they are good and have proved their ability.”
Spinner Yasir Shah, meanwhile, said he could have used the kind of help Ajmal can offer: “Sometimes you miss having an experienced partner in the field with whom you discuss [tactics] and seek advice from,” he told Cricinfo. “Like it was tough taking wickets on flat tracks as in Khulna where the pitch was unresponsive and we all were struggling to take wickets. So having a player like of Ajmal around gives you confidence.”
Pakistan are yet to win a game against Bangladesh on this tour and were blindsided by Tamim Iqbal and Imrul Kayes’ world-record 312-run opening stand in the second innings in Khulna. But Ajmal conceded the hosts’ form was powerful enough “any team would have struggled”
“They are at their top of their form. There is no weakness in their combination; their batting, bowling and fielding clicking at the moment.
“They are a developing team and at the moment they can give any team a tough time. We underestimated them. We never thought they will play like that and that’s the reason we are shocked. Yes, in Test cricket we could have done better but the pitch was the main difference. I hardly saw the ball spin on the track but Pakistan is a better side in Tests and we have a plan this time and I don’t see any reason why we can’t beat them.”