I Want to Retire With Respect and Honour: Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal appeals during the second Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo in August 2014. (Photo: Reuters)

Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal said that he wants to retire with dignity. He added that he will not be retiring any time soon and that he has some more years of international cricket left in him. He said he would sit down with the selectors and discuss his future.

Ajmal’s international career took a hit when he was banned from playing at the highest level last September due to an illegal action. He is bowling with a remodelled action now, which has been cleared by the ICC, but this action is not producing the same quality of deliveries like the earlier one.

I never wanted to retire in obscurity as I have done enough for Pakistan to win matches single-handedly. I want to retire with respect and honour. I will definitely sit with the selectors and discuss my future plans with them.
— Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal looks at his jersey during the practice session ahead of the second Test against Sri Lanka at Colombo in August 2014. (Photo: Reuters)

The 37-year-old also said that he needs to get used to his new action.

I could have persisted for the national selection earlier but it might have been a risky case as we have seen (Mohammad) Hafeez is reported again after being cleared. So it’s a matter of getting things right and wait for the right time.
— Saeed Ajmal

The off-spinner who made his ODI debut at the age of 31 feels that he will still be effective in the shorter format of the game.

I know I am not able to get wickets in four-day cricket maybe because the pitches (in England) are green, soft and it rains a lot but at the same time I am still a better limited-overs bowler and taking wickets in the shorter format.
— Saeed Ajmal