Hambantota - It’s one and one between Pakistan and Sri Lanka in three-match one-day international series and good news for Pakistani team and spectators is that Saeed Ajmal is back for the final encounter.
Pakistan played first two ODIs without their most dependent bowler Ajmal because doosra specialist had flown away to Australia to undergo his suspected bowling action on the directives of the International Cricket Council (ICC).
Team manager Moin Khan while talking to this scribe expressed his happiness over Ajmal's comeback and termed it a good omen for the team as it will make the team's winning chances bright. " Ajmal's comeback will certainly help in strengthening the bowling department especially spin bowling which suffered a lot due to the magical spinners' absence and their performance was also not up to the mark."
It is to mention here that the spin bowling department didn’t perform and failed in grabbing a good number of wickets. It were batsmen who batted brilliantly and helped the team register victory in the first ODI while in the second, both bowlers and batsmen disappointed the nation.
Speaking about the team's performance in the first two ODIs, the manager said: "I am satisfied with the green shirts' performance in the both ODIs but the boys must play with their potential and try to win this crunch match to clinch the series as a victory will boost their morale and help them prepare well for upcoming tasks." Instead of training session on Wednesday, the team had pool session as today (Thursday), they will reach Dambulla and there they will do net practice.
Misbah-ul-Haq has also said his spinners Shahid Afridi and Mohammad Hafeez had done their jobs, but added that Pakistan could have done with Saeed Ajmal on the Hambantota pitch. "Shahid and Hafeez bowled well. He (Afridi) did not get wickets but he came in and performed his role and restricted runs. It really makes a difference especially (with) the kind of pitch this was. Saeed Ajmal always makes a difference in the Powerplays, in the last overs. It was really difficult the way it was turning today."