Younis slams Australia for reporting Ajmal’s action
April 28th, 2009 - 8:42 pm ICT by IANS
Sydney, April 28 (IANS) Pakistan captain Younis Khan has slammed Australia for reporting off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for ‘illegal’ bowling action during the second One-day International cricket.
Khan asked why do controversies always rear their head when Australia play sub-continental teams.
Ajmal, who played in the third match Australia won Monday, suggested it was a complaint from opposition all-rounder Shane Watson that led to the umpires reporting him over his action.
“This is always happening when Australia play India and Pakistan,” Khan was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph. “Why do we create controversies all the time? Why? It’s a fair game,” he said.
“You’re saying, ‘Why he bowl doosra?’
“Why (shouldn’t) he (Ajmal) bowl doosra? Because this is an art and especially Pakistanis and Indians have the art, so why (should it) not be allowed?”
Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was reported over his action in Australia in Perth in 1999 while Sri Lankan Test wicket world record holder Muttiah Muralitharan was called for chucking in Australia on two separate tours.
For his part, Australian captain Michael Clarke tried to play down any controversy, categorically saying Watson hadn’t made a specific complaint about Ajmal’s action.
“Watto certainly didn’t go to the umpires and say a word, none of our players have approached the umpires and spoken about it,” Clarke said.
“I think Watto was pretty upset with the shot he played and getting out.”
Ajmal played against Australia in Monday night’s third match in Abu Dhabi, despite the report hanging over him, and continued to bowl his doosra, the delivery that is the subject of the query.
Khan said it was simply a matter of Ajmal bowling a quicker ball, and not cheating.
He pointed to a previous report laid over the faster ball of Pakistani leg-spinner Shahid Afridi and to the questioning of the speed of a bowler.
“We’re not cheating, sometimes they ask you why should you bowl very fast and then they say why should Afridi bowl suddenly at 140 kph? I think that’s the beauty of cricket.”
- "Doosra" cannot be bowled legally: Michael Holding - Apr 27, 2011
- Saqlain backs Ajmal's doosra - Jan 24, 2012
- Doosra cannot be bowled legally: Holding - Apr 27, 2011
- It will be India's batting vs Pakistan's bowling (Preview) - Mar 29, 2011
- Harbhajan has highly suspicious action, claims Hair - Aug 24, 2011
- Holding's 'illegal Doosra' comments directed at Pak spinners "not prudent": Qasim - May 01, 2011
- Ajmal passes doosra tips to Worcestershire team-mate - Feb 29, 2012
- ICC comes to defence of Saeed Ajmal - Mar 19, 2012
- India pin hopes on batsmen, Pakistan on bowlers (Roundup) - Mar 29, 2011
- Australia, Pakistan will look to finish at top of Group A (Preview) - Mar 18, 2011
- Pak team may replace Kaneria with Ajmal for Headingley Test against Australia - Jul 19, 2010
- Clarke defends his slow scoring in first ODI against England - Jan 20, 2011
- 'Saeed Ajmal can be a match-winner with little variation,' says ex-Pak spinner - Aug 12, 2010
- Doosra essential to survive in international cricket: Pak tweaker Ajmal - Dec 22, 2009
- Awesome Pakistan breeze into World Cup semifinals - Mar 24, 2011
Tags: afridi, australian captain, bowling action, captain michael, controversies, daily telegraph, fair game, india and pakistan, michael clarke, one day international cricket, pakistan captain, pakistanis, rounder, shane watson, sri lankan, test wicket, umpires, word none, world record holder, younis khan
