Pakistan Cricket Board is thinking very rightly to boycott ICC awards over Saeed Ajmal omission. Off spinner Saeed Ajmal is one of the best bowlers of cricket in last year or so. Many former and current cricketers have said that Saeed Ajmal is one of the finest bowlers in cricket now days. Former cricketer and commentator Tony Greig has recently said that Saeed Ajmal will be his first choice in any team.
The qualifying period for the ICC award was from 4th August, 2011 to 6th August, 2012. Look at the players’ performance who have been selected for Test Cricketer of the Year between this period:
- Sri Lanka batsman Kumar Sangakkara has scored 1444 runs at an average of 60.16 in 14 Test matches. (Sri Lanka won only 3 Test matches during this period, lost 5 matches, 6 matches were drawn)
- Australia captain Michael Clarke has scored 1355 runs at an average if 58.91 in 14 Test matches. (Australia won 9 matches, lost 2 matches, 3 matches were drawn)
- South Africa opener Hashim Amla 915 runs at an average of 65.35 in 10 Test matches. (South Africa won 5 matches, lost 2 matches, 3 matches were drawn)
- South Africa fast bowler Vernon Philander who debuted in November 2011 has taken 56 wickets at an average of 16.57 in 9 Test matches. (South Africa won 5 matches, lost 1 matches, 3 matches were drawn)
Now if we look at Saeed Ajmal’s record in the qualifying period he has taken 72 wickets at an average of 24.29 in 12 test matches including 24 at 14.70 as Pakistan swept aside England, the then No. 1 side in the world, 3-0 in January. (Pakistan won 7 matches, lost 1 match, 4 matches were drawn)
This shows that Saeed Ajmal record is much better than South African bowler Vernon Philander. Saeed should have been selected in the short list of Test Cricketer of the Year and Vernon Philander could have been selected in Emerging Player of the Year category as he made his debut in November 2011.