Ajmal believes PSL will help him make international comeback

Dubai [UAE], Feb. 14 (ANI): Pakistan's out-of-favour spinner Saeed Ajmal believes that the ongoing second season of the Pakistan Super League (PSL) will prove to be turning point in his career and will help him to make a comeback to international cricket. Ajmal, who has not played international cricket since April 2015, has been recruited as a full-time player by PSL franchise Islamabad United. "It's unfortunate that we haven't had an off-spinner since I was out, which is why I believe I still have a chance to make it," ESPNcricinfo quoted Ajmal as saying. "I am working hard to ensure this PSL is a turning point for me. T20 cricket is difficult with lots of ups and downs, but I am ready, and hopefully this event will be a step to the national team." He further asserted that Pakistan desperately need an off-spinner. 'Nobody seems to have appeared to fill my gap for years. I have not given up and all I can do is hard work," he added. The 39-year-old also stressed that form and not age should be the top priority for selection. "Age probably is a problem in Pakistan. What exactly you want from a player is performance and if a player is helping the team to win then who cares about the age," he said. "I want to perform regardless of the age; I don't really think about it. What I need to do is to stay fit and keep taking wickets," he added. Having notched up a total of 178 wickets in 35 Tests, Ajmal was ranked as the number one bowler in ODIs and was also very impressive in the longest format of the game before being suspended for exceeding the 15-degree elbow flex limit set by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in September 2014. The spin maestro then underwent remedial work and was cleared to bowl again in February last year. However, he played just one match since remodeling his action when he last turned up in Pakistan colours in a Twenty20 match against Bangladesh in April 2015.(ANI)