Saeed Ajmal: “Too many of our players are just focused on and interested in white-ball cricket. Real cricket is Test cricket yet I don’t see hardly any players in Pakistan who are interested mostly in Test cricket”
Image taken by: Bimal Mirwani
Legendary Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has admitted that it is sad to see so few cricketers in the country interested in playing Test cricket.
Ajmal remarked that many cricketers today are more focused on ODIs and T20Is, driven largely by the financial incentives these shorter formats offer.
However, the 48-year-old stressed that if Pakistan hopes to regain its status as a powerhouse in Test cricket, the players’ mindset and attitude toward the longest format must change.
“Too many of our players are just focused on and interested in white-ball cricket. Real cricket is Test cricket yet I don’t see hardly any players in Pakistan who are interested mostly in Test cricket. Whoever comes, they want to play white-ball cricket, make money and then disappear. Their attitude is that I don’t want to waste time on playing red-ball cricket. We need to change this mentality if we are to become a top team in Test cricket once again,” he was quoted as saying by respected journalist Saj Sadiq on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Pakistan drew their last Test series against South Africa 1-1.
Next up for them will be a three-match T20I series against Australia in Lahore from January 29 to February 1.
Pakistan Squad for T20I series against Australia: Salman Ali Agha (captain), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay (wicketkeeper), Mohammad Nawaz, Salman Mirza, Mohammad Wasim Jnr, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan (wicketkeeper), Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan (wicketkeeper), Usman Tariq
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