ABU DHABI - AUSTRALIAN captain Michael Clarke has denied teammate Shane Watson approached umpires to complain about Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal's bowling action.
Australian captain Michael Clarke (left) has denied teammate Shane Watson approached umpires to complain about Pakistani off-spinner Saeed Ajmal's bowling action. --PHOTO: AP
Ajmal, whose action was reported as illegal during the second one-dayer in Dubai on Friday, accused Watson of speaking with the on-field umpires about him. But Clarke said none of his players made the complaint.
'All we know is that Watson certainly didn't go to the umpires and say a word, none of our players have approached (the umpires) and spoken about him (Ajmal),' he said. 'The series is being played in a fantastic spirit and we want to continue with that.'
Australia lead the five-match series 2-1 after a spirited all-round show by Clarke, who scored 66 in an otherwise unimpressive total of 198-7 in their match on Monday. The Australian captain then chipped in with 3-15 as Pakistan collapsed from 95-0 to 171 all out.
Pakistan won the first match by four wickets before Australia came back strongly to clinch the second by six wickets. The remaining two matches will be played here on May 1 and 3. The only Twenty20 match is scheduled for Dubai on May 7.
Clarke, standing in for regular captain Ricky Ponting who is being rested for the series along with Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson, said he was not bothered about Ajmal's doosra delivery.
'I don't know (whether he will still bowl that delivery), I am not picking it. Personally I believe that the ball is spinning in all different directions so we must keep focus. Both teams got on really very well,' he added.
'It is hard fought cricket and all that stuff (Ajmal's action) is for the ICC (International Cricket Council) to make their decision, for us it is about making sure whichever way the ball is spinning we try and hit it.'
Pakistan captain Younus Khan denied Ajmal has been stopped from bowling the doosra - the delivery for which his action was questioned.
'If Ajmal is playing he is allowed to bowl doosra or any kind of legal delivery,' said Younus. 'We don't need any controversy and both teams play very fair.'
Younus, meanwhile, said he was disappointed over losing Monday's match from a strong position. 'We spurned a golden opportunity of beating Australia. We must learn the way Australia fought and did not give up, even after putting a low total on the board.' -- AFP
Ajmal, whose action was reported as illegal during the second one-dayer in Dubai on Friday, accused Watson of speaking with the on-field umpires about him. But Clarke said none of his players made the complaint.
'All we know is that Watson certainly didn't go to the umpires and say a word, none of our players have approached (the umpires) and spoken about him (Ajmal),' he said. 'The series is being played in a fantastic spirit and we want to continue with that.'
Australia lead the five-match series 2-1 after a spirited all-round show by Clarke, who scored 66 in an otherwise unimpressive total of 198-7 in their match on Monday. The Australian captain then chipped in with 3-15 as Pakistan collapsed from 95-0 to 171 all out.
Pakistan won the first match by four wickets before Australia came back strongly to clinch the second by six wickets. The remaining two matches will be played here on May 1 and 3. The only Twenty20 match is scheduled for Dubai on May 7.
Clarke, standing in for regular captain Ricky Ponting who is being rested for the series along with Michael Hussey and Mitchell Johnson, said he was not bothered about Ajmal's doosra delivery.
'I don't know (whether he will still bowl that delivery), I am not picking it. Personally I believe that the ball is spinning in all different directions so we must keep focus. Both teams got on really very well,' he added.
'It is hard fought cricket and all that stuff (Ajmal's action) is for the ICC (International Cricket Council) to make their decision, for us it is about making sure whichever way the ball is spinning we try and hit it.'
Pakistan captain Younus Khan denied Ajmal has been stopped from bowling the doosra - the delivery for which his action was questioned.
'If Ajmal is playing he is allowed to bowl doosra or any kind of legal delivery,' said Younus. 'We don't need any controversy and both teams play very fair.'
Younus, meanwhile, said he was disappointed over losing Monday's match from a strong position. 'We spurned a golden opportunity of beating Australia. We must learn the way Australia fought and did not give up, even after putting a low total on the board.' -- AFP
Posts
0 comments:
Post a Comment