Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal announces retirement

LAHORE (NNI): Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal announced on Monday that he was retiring from all forms of cricket.

In an interview with Wisden India, Ajmal said that it was time for him to pull up his socks since he ‘did not want to be a burden on any team’. “This national event is my last tournament and I don’t want to be a burden on any team,” he stated during a match on Monday.

“I am highly satisfied with my career although the last two years were frustrating. The process of dealing with bowlers of illegal action seemed to be only for me and (Mohammad) Hafeez because there are a number of bowlers who are still playing with faulty actions,” he said.

Ajmal said that he would retire after the National T20 Cup, which is underway in Rawalpindi, ends. The off-spinner, once considered a match winner for Pakistan, is 40 years-old and has been rendered less effective after his action was reported and subsequently had to be altered.

“But before anyone can raise a finger against my selection (in domestic matches), I want to leave and that’s my final decision,” he said.

Saeed Ajmal was instrumental in the many victories that Pakistan enjoyed in all formats of the game. He took 178 wickets from the 35 Test matches that he played and 184 wickets from 113 ODIs.