'All the way back home, all I could hear was Mike Hussey, Mike Hussey' - Saeed Ajmal recalls Pakistan's 2010 WC defeat

Saeed Ajmal, a spinner for Pakistan, is generally considered as one of the best to have represented his nation. From 2008 to 2015, Ajmal played for the national side and at one point held the title of top bowler in the game's various formats. Despite the controversy around his bowling technique that dogged Ajmal's international career, the spinner is still regarded as one of the all-time greats.

Ajmal's professional career, however, experienced a low moment in 2010 during the T20 World Cup. When required to defend 18 runs off the final over against the Australian side in the semifinal clash, Ajmal gave away three sixes and a four while bowling to Michael Hussey. The spin legend reflected on the event more than 12 years after it happened and admitted that it had been difficult for him to move on from the loss.

I didn't step outside the house for 8 days: Ajmal

“When I returned home after that, from the plane to the airport, and all the way back home, all I could hear was 'Mike Hussey, Mike Hussey'. I didn't step outside the house for 8 days. My father came to me and said, 'you need to get to the ground'. If you stay at home, you will be dropped from the team. Inside one year, I need a response to this,” Ajmal said on Pakistan channel GEO's Hasna Mana hai show.

“I worked hard, I developed a variation on doosra, developed pace. After that, in ODIs, T20Is, and Tests, I became the no.1 bowler. In 2011, 2012, and 2013, in all these three years, I took 326 wickets,” Ajmal said further.

In 113 One Day Internationals played by him, the spinner finished his illustrious career with a total of 184 wickets. Additionally, in just 35 Test matches, he picked up 178 wickets. Ajmal had an excellent economy rate of 6.36 in T20Is, registering 85 dismissals in 64 matches. Ever since his retirement, he has been an expert as he speaks in depth about Pakistan’s performances on his personal YouTube channel.