PakPassion Presents an Exclusive Interview with Saeed Ajmal (Questions Thread)

[Saj]

It gives me great pleasure to announce that PakPassion will be conducting an interview with one of Pakistan's most popular cricketers, Saeed Ajmal.

Saeed's down to earth personality, humour and humility has made him a firm favourite with the Pakistani fans wherever he plays.

His guile and variety have mesmerised the best in the world and his committment and efforts can never be doubted.

Usual PakPassion format, add your question(s) in this thread and we'll select the best 15 or so for Saeed.

[insurge]

How did you get into cricket?

How did you decide that you're going to be a spinner?

How do you comeback after being hit for a six and what do you change when bowling under pressure to get back in control?

What advice do you have for new off spinners?

Do you feel you have missed your best years after making your debut on the other side of the 30s? How much longer do you think you can play?

Being the lead spinner in the team and across all three formats, do you help fellow finger spinners (Hafeez, Rehman, Malik) and do they help you?

Many Pakistani off spinners follow a generic 'formula' for an action developed by Saqlain. How did you settle into your action and did you get advice from other spinners to help improve it?

Who is the best wicket keeper in Pakistan who can keep to your variations the best?

Who is the toughest batsman to bowl to? Internationally and (Pakistani batsmen) in the nets? Who is the Pakistani batsman who can play you the best in the nets and who plays you the worst? Out of the new young players who is the best player of spin?

Can you shed some light on your new delivery that you were going to bowl in the WC? Many people are confused whether you used it or not.

What is the most important thing for an off spinner to have (Spin, accuracy, variety) and what are you focusing on improving the most these days? What do you feel is your strength and weakness in bowling?

Many people say they prefer leg spinners for test matches and in general because they are wicket takers, yet in world cricket today all the best spinners are finger spinners (Yourself, Swann, Shakib etc) and barely any noteworthy leg spinners. Why is this? What should off spinners depend on to take wicket since they have less variation than their leg spinning counterparts?

Is bowling for you getting tougher as you play more matches because batsman are getting used to your action and because of the technology that makes subtle changes in action more noticeable? How do you change your bowling to make sure a batsman cant settle in on your action and variations?

One of my favourite players and role model for off spin who I learnt a ton just by watching, I even copy his action when bowling off spin myself, hope you can choose some of my questions!

[amjad_ali]

just tell him he's the only cricketer in the team that I, along with many other fans, trust and love. Keep it up Ajmal bhai, may Allah bless you with every success in both worlds.

[Saj]

What did you make of Michael Holding's comments about some of yours and Hafeez's deliveries in the Caribbean?

[KingKhanWC]

1. How did you feel after Sachin was given not out because of DRS in the semi final?

2. The half century against England in last years test series was a brilliant performance and you have also played some good knocks since. Have you always enjoyed your batting?

3. Do you feel a lot of pressure since in a short time you have become the main strike bowler for Pakistan?

Finally you are a excellent role model for Pakistani's, thank you and keep up the good work.

[ads101]

Which batsman did you find trickiest to bowl too ? And who is the best bowler you've faced as a batsman?

I'm a big fan of yours, so keep up the good work

[Amjid Javed]

You have always been a star performer domestically do you think you should have been selected for Pakistan alot earlier then you did?

What young spin talent has impressed you in Pakistan recently?

Which is favourite format off the game T20, ODIs or Tests?

[Sohaib]

Do you feel you could have made into Pakistani side alot earlier than you did few years ago?

[shahidafridi123]

Who is your role model?

[BoomBoomCricket]

How big a role has Misbah Ul Haq played in getting you where you are today? He captained you domestically & pushed for your inclusion in the 2008 Asia Cup which was held in Pakistan when he was vice skipper and the team were looking for a specialist spinner. You made your debut against India in a match where he captained. How has he helped and guided you to stage where you are now one of the most feared spinners in international cricket?

[Prince_Pathan]

You have one of the most difficult actions when it comes to picking your doosra. Which wicketkeeper do you feel most comfortable with behind the stumps when you're bowling?'

[Saj]

You worked over Sachin Tendulkar in the WC semi final, what was the plan and were you surprised how difficult he found to read your bowling?

[alberto]

do you fell extra pressure bowling at the end of the innings?
do you feel pakistan attack is too much spin dominated?
are you are wicket taker or an economical bowler?
were you surprised at being included in the world cup quarter against the windies despite being second fiddle to rehman?

[PakCrikNeedsFixin]

Can we also hear the audio from this interview please? idone

[PakistanCricketForever!]

Originally Posted by ads101 Which batsman did you find trickiest to bowl too ? And who is the best bowler you've faced as a batsman? I'm a big fan of yours, so keep up the good work

Mike hussey :o

[Quick Single]

Which batsmen do you like bowling to the most.

Have you tried to improve on your batting since your 50 against England?

[Saqs]

Why the difficulty in translating your ODI success into Tests? Is it a matter of patience?

[The Muppets XI]

Heres mine:

How are you enjoying playing county with Worcs, have the boys made you feel at home and any plans yet to come back next year?

You've played against a number of counties. Have you spotted any young England domestic spinners that have impressed?

Who were your cricketing heroes whilst you were growing up?

You are one of the few spin death bowlers in the shorter formats of the game, how do you handle the pressure?

Your angry eyes death stares at batsmen (and occasionally at our own players after misfields) are one of the best I've seen, do you partake in sledging?

You are a world class bowler, however, which of your own batting innings has been your most memorable?

You seemed to get on well with David Dwyer, do you miss him around the Pakistan set-up? What do you do to keep fit?

I'm planning on visiting Worcester soon, can you recommend any good Kebab shops?

[zains_rulez]

Saeed Bhai how do u do Dosra such accurately ?? how can i turn ball other way with my wrist spin ?

Will u play WC 2015 ??

[zayn]

How many years longer will you continue your playing career?

Will you look to go into coaching or another role after retirement?

Are there any talented young spinners coming through the ranks to keep tabs on e.g Hasan Raza?

How do you think Pakistani cricket will fare in time to come and what improvements need to be made?

[ahsan_200]

1 > What is your Education ?

2> What is the difference Between the Balls you use in domestic circuit (pakistan) and those (balls) used in international cricket ?

3 > What is your goal ? means do you have any specific target that u will take tht many wickets by the end of career & what after retirement ?

[Cosmic]

Ask Him Where was he in late 2003 era when the rebuilding process start why he was not on the scene,.....

[Torpedo]

Why don't you ask the captain to set more attacking fields for you instead of using you as a bowler who is being used to stop the flow of runs. (In test cricket)

Are you aiming to play in the 2015 World Cup?

Is the Pakistan team aiming to be in the top 4 by 2013 to qualify for World Test Championship?

[Fawad2010]

no questions from me, but do tell him that we love him here!

[aneeq7]

what do you think about the contoversies of your doosra..?

[Hasnain_786]

Why do people call you Idone?

Where did you learn the doosra from?

[SOSami]

Does any Pakistani batsman pick your doosra in the nets?

Do you prefer bowling in tandem with another spinner or a quick operating at the other end?

Who is your best friend in the Pakistan team?

Your favourite wicket to date?

[PakCrikNeedsFixin]

Originally Posted by Hasnain_786 Why do people call you Idone?

I'll answer that. Hear it from the legend himself. Whatta man

[Saj]

Thanks to everyone for their questions.

We'll select the best ones and watch this space for the interview.