Karachi: Senior spinner Saeed Ajmal has said that he is ready to retire from international cricket if the Pakistan cricket authorities tell him clearly he is no longer a part of their plans.
"I have always played on merit and my performances but if the Pakistan cricket board feels I can't play for the national team anymore, I would request them to let me know so that I can than retire gracefully and with self-respect," Ajmal told Geo News channel here on Tuesday.
"The PCB has also done a lot for me and supported me in my testing times all I want is a clear picture where I stand," an angry Ajmal said.
Ajmal, 37, faces an uphill task to revive his international career after the national selectors have indicated they are not happy with his performances for English county Worcestershire this season. The selectors have said that they would like to test him out at the national cricket academy when he returns to Pakistan.
Ajmal was forced to modify his bowling action last year after he was banned from bowling by the ICC in September after which he underwent remedial work on his action. He made a brief comeback to the Pakistan team on their tour to Bangladesh last April but failed to impress in either the ODI or T20 matches after which he was dropped from the national squad and went to England to play county cricket.
"I have never forced anyone to select me in the Pakistan team. If I perform well and impress the selectors, fine if they are not convinced, it is not a problem for me," Ajmal said.
"I have always played my cricket with self-respect and pride and all I want is a proper chance to announce my retirement and thank all my well wishes and supporters," Ajmal said.
Ajmal was Pakistan’s leading wicket taker in all three formats between 2009 and 2014 taking 178 test, 184 ODI and 85 T20 international wickets. "If they want to test me out again at the NCA I am also ready for that. I am coming back to play in the national T20 championship main rounds and the selectors and people can decide whether I have improved as a bowler with my modified action or not," he said.
Ajmal said he had gained a lot of confidence bowling with his new action in England. "When I played against Bangladesh, I was still experimenting with my action but now things are different and I don't think my career is over. I know I can still play a while for my country," he stated.
