By IANS,
Sydney : Pakistan captain Younis Khan has slammed Australia for reporting off-spinner Saeed Ajmal for ‘illegal’ bowling action during the second One-day International cricket.
Khan asked why do controversies always rear their head when Australia play sub-continental teams.
Ajmal, who played in the third match Australia won Monday, suggested it was a complaint from opposition all-rounder Shane Watson that led to the umpires reporting him over his action.
“This is always happening when Australia play India and Pakistan,” Khan was quoted as saying in the Daily Telegraph. “Why do we create controversies all the time? Why? It’s a fair game,” he said.
“You’re saying, ‘Why he bowl doosra?’
“Why (shouldn’t) he (Ajmal) bowl doosra? Because this is an art and especially Pakistanis and Indians have the art, so why (should it) not be allowed?”
Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar was reported over his action in Australia in Perth in 1999 while Sri Lankan Test wicket world record holder Muttiah Muralitharan was called for chucking in Australia on two separate tours.
For his part, Australian captain Michael Clarke tried to play down any controversy, categorically saying Watson hadn’t made a specific complaint about Ajmal’s action.
“Watto certainly didn’t go to the umpires and say a word, none of our players have approached the umpires and spoken about it,” Clarke said.
“I think Watto was pretty upset with the shot he played and getting out.”
Ajmal played against Australia in Monday night’s third match in Abu Dhabi, despite the report hanging over him, and continued to bowl his doosra, the delivery that is the subject of the query.
Khan said it was simply a matter of Ajmal bowling a quicker ball, and not cheating.
He pointed to a previous report laid over the faster ball of Pakistani leg-spinner Shahid Afridi and to the questioning of the speed of a bowler.
“We’re not cheating, sometimes they ask you why should you bowl very fast and then they say why should Afridi bowl suddenly at 140 kph? I think that’s the beauty of cricket.”