A modern-day offspinner who relies on the doosra as much as on other variations of flight and speed, Saeed Ajmal made a relatively late entry into international cricket, at the age of 30, but is doing his best to make up for lost time. Ajmal received a call-up to the Pakistan squad for the Asia Cup in 2008 after an impressive domestic season. He made an immediate impression with his subtle variations, unafraid to use the doosra. But his career took off with a series of ODI performances that bewildered Australia in Dubai and Abu Dhabi; he gave away few runs and his doosra was nigh-on unreadable. The ICC called him for his action, though it was cleared soon after. The pressure didn't get to him and immediately after, he played a crucial role in Pakistan's drive to the 2009 World Twenty20 title, regularly bottling up the middle overs with Shahid Afridi. He ended the joint second-highest wicket-taker in the tournament, with an exemplary economy rate as batsmen around the world struggled to pick a big turning doosra or even cope with his changes in flight, pace and angle.
In July 2009 he made his Test debut, and quickly proved he could adapt to the longer version of the game too, taking 14 wickets in three Tests in Sri Lanka. His maiden ten-wicket match haul, against West Indies in Providence, was in a losing cause, but Ajmal persevered regardless, taking 18 wickets in three Tests against his favourite opposition, Sri Lanka, in 2011 as he firmly announced himself as Pakistan's leading spinner in all forms of the game.
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