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Ajmal factor worries India ahead of Pakistan match
Johannesburg: He is just five feet four inches tall but with his ability to extract spin from any surface, Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has become a thorn in the flesh for Indian batsmen ahead of the crucial Group A tie in the ICC Champions Trophy on Saturday.
Team India's problems were further compounded after vice-captain Yuvraj Singh was ruled out of the elite ICC event following a fracture in his right hand's little finger that he sustained during practice, thereby leaving a vacuum in the middle-order.
Interestingly, it sounds blasphemy to hear about India's concern for Ajmal as they are famous for their mastery in handling the tweakers. Even the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis don't quite give them sleepless nights.
But experienced Yuvraj's absence in the middle overs of the innings, where Pakistan invariably employs the spin duo of Shahid Afridi and Ajmal, has raised a few concerns for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men.
Ajmal made his debut at the age of 30 but has since then confounded his opponents. He befuddled the Australians with his big-turning doosras at Sharjah and Abu Dhabi and was the joint second highest wicket-taker in this year's Twenty20 World Cup in England which Pakistan won.
He followed it up with 14 wickets in a recent Test series in Sri Lanka, scalped five wickets in the ODIs and three for 18 in the one-off Twenty20 match.
Ajmal's strength is his change of pace, flight, angle of deliveries and doosra, which he bowls without any discernible giveaway.
With Ajmal's threat in mind, the Indians are now caught up in a dilemma whether to keep all their experience batsmen at the top of the order or should someone like Rahul Dravid be kept for middle overs.
The idea in itself is ironic for Dravid's selection was essentially seen as a move to counter quick bowlers on fresh South African wickets but the first look of Centurion so far suggest its' anything but quick.
And likewise, the pace of Pakistani fast bowlers might not play a big factor in the dead Centurion pitch. which means India could take the liberty of holding on someone like Dravid to shore up the middle order.
In all probability, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir will start the innings for India, followed by Suresh Raina, Rahul Dravid and skipper Dhoni.
Ajmal factor worries India ahead of Pakistan match
Johannesburg: He is just five feet four inches tall but with his ability to extract spin from any surface, Pakistan off-spinner Saeed Ajmal has become a thorn in the flesh for Indian batsmen ahead of the crucial Group A tie in the ICC Champions Trophy on Saturday.
Team India's problems were further compounded after vice-captain Yuvraj Singh was ruled out of the elite ICC event following a fracture in his right hand's little finger that he sustained during practice, thereby leaving a vacuum in the middle-order.
Interestingly, it sounds blasphemy to hear about India's concern for Ajmal as they are famous for their mastery in handling the tweakers. Even the likes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Ajantha Mendis don't quite give them sleepless nights.
But experienced Yuvraj's absence in the middle overs of the innings, where Pakistan invariably employs the spin duo of Shahid Afridi and Ajmal, has raised a few concerns for Mahendra Singh Dhoni and his men.
Ajmal made his debut at the age of 30 but has since then confounded his opponents. He befuddled the Australians with his big-turning doosras at Sharjah and Abu Dhabi and was the joint second highest wicket-taker in this year's Twenty20 World Cup in England which Pakistan won.
He followed it up with 14 wickets in a recent Test series in Sri Lanka, scalped five wickets in the ODIs and three for 18 in the one-off Twenty20 match.
Ajmal's strength is his change of pace, flight, angle of deliveries and doosra, which he bowls without any discernible giveaway.
With Ajmal's threat in mind, the Indians are now caught up in a dilemma whether to keep all their experience batsmen at the top of the order or should someone like Rahul Dravid be kept for middle overs.
The idea in itself is ironic for Dravid's selection was essentially seen as a move to counter quick bowlers on fresh South African wickets but the first look of Centurion so far suggest its' anything but quick.
And likewise, the pace of Pakistani fast bowlers might not play a big factor in the dead Centurion pitch. which means India could take the liberty of holding on someone like Dravid to shore up the middle order.
In all probability, Sachin Tendulkar and Gautam Gambhir will start the innings for India, followed by Suresh Raina, Rahul Dravid and skipper Dhoni.
Ajmal factor worries India ahead of Pakistan match
