Former Pakistan cricketer and off-spinner Saeed Ajmal believes that India and Pakistan should resume playing bilateral cricket in each other’s countries. The two cricketing giants have only competed in multi-nation events since 2008, with the last bilateral series taking place when Pakistan toured India in 2012-13. Ajmal shared his thoughts on the sidelines of the GloFans High School Cricket Cup launch in Sharjah, which will take place in November.
Ajmal played a key role in Pakistan’s cricketing history, representing his country from 2008 to 2015. With 178 wickets in 35 Test matches, 184 in ODIs, and 85 in T20Is, he has been an influential figure. Now, Ajmal is advocating for stronger cricketing ties between India and Pakistan, stating that cricket can foster unity and friendship between the two nations.
Ajmal’s Call for Bilateral Cricket Between India and Pakistan
Ajmal feels that India and Pakistan should play in each other’s countries, citing that the fans have immense love for these encounters.
He said, “Even if the India vs Pakistan match happens on the moon, it will be huge.”
Ajmal noted that despite the political and diplomatic strains, there remains an undeniable passion for cricket in both nations, and matches between them can serve as a way to ease tensions.
The last bilateral series between India and Pakistan took place in 2012-13, with no Test matches since 2007.
Ajmal’s comments come as the global cricket community hopes to see a resumption of India-Pakistan cricket on each other’s soil.
He added that the rivalry between both nations is not only intense but also beneficial for the sport, especially in the long format.
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The Importance of Test Cricket According to Ajmal
Beyond advocating for bilateral series, Ajmal also stressed the importance of preserving Test cricket in the face of rising T20 leagues.
He believes that Test cricket is the true test of a player’s ability, as those who excel in this format can easily adapt to other formats.
Ajmal’s call to protect the longest format of the game echoes a growing concern that the popularity of T20 could overshadow traditional cricket.
Ajmal praised modern cricketers like Virat Kohli, Joe Root, Babar Azam, and Rohit Sharma for their excellence in the longer formats, while also lauding Indian pacer Jasprit Bumrah for his intelligent bowling, particularly in India’s T20 World Cup victory.
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