Pakistan offspinner Saeed Ajmal will resume his pursuit of the top bowler ranking in the upcoming three-Test series against Sri Lanka. Ajmal is currently second in Test rankings behind South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn. He is also second in the ODI ratings behind another South Africa fast bowler, Lonwabo Tsotsobe. "I have set a goal for myself and that is to be No 1 in Test rankings after the series against Sri Lanka," Ajmal said Saturday.
The offspinner took 18 wickets in last year's three-Test series against Sri Lanka and 24 wickets against England earlier this year. Both series were played in the United Arab Emirates, where Pakistan won 1-0 and 3-0, respectively. He finished 2011 as the leading wicket-taker in Tests with 50.
The Pakistan team leaves for Sri Lanka on May 28 to play two Twenty20s, five ODIs and three test matches. In the meantime the players are training at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore where four practice matches two Twenty20s and two One-dayers will be played over the next week.
Ajmal appeared to put off England's batsmen when he threatened to bowl a mystery ball during the series in the UAE. However, the offspinner didn't need that delivery as English batsmen struggled against his `doosra' a delivery that spins away from a right-handed batsman.
The offspinner has no such plans for Sri Lanka batsmen, who are better at playing against spinners with the likes of Kumar Sangakkara, Mahela Jayawardene and Thilan Samaraweera shoring up their batting lineup. "There's no need to introduce any new delivery," Ajmal said with a smile. "It will be good if I bowl the tried ones with full control."
He does not expect the wickets in Sri Lanka to suit spinners this time around with retired spin bowling great Muttiah Muralitharan no longer in the Sri Lanka lineup. "We are preparing ourselves as if the wickets won't suit the spinners," Ajmal said. "If there's help for spinners then I think with myself and (leftarm spinner) Abdur Rehman we have a good combination to challenge Sri Lanka batsmen."
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