After more than a decade, the Pakistan spinner claims that the last two frames of the replay were cut to save Sachin Tendulkar.
Former Pakistan spinner Saeed Ajmal has staked a significant claim in the much-discussed judgement on Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket in the 2011 World Cup semi-final in Mohali. Tendulkar was batting on 23 when Ajmal’s delivery smacked him in the pad in front of the stumps. Umpire Ian Gould raised his finger in response to the Pakistani players’ plea, but Tendulkar chose to go upstairs. Replays proved that the ball would have missed the batter’s leg stump, allowing him to survive.
After more than a decade, Ajmal has claimed that the last two frames of the replay were cut to save Tendulkar.
“I competed in the 2011 World Cup in India.” If you recall the contentious call on Sachin Tendulkar’s wicket. He was still out, according to the umpire and me. They chopped the last two frames to make the ball miss the stumps. Otherwise, it would have hit the middle stump,” Ajmal stated on Nadir Ali’s podcast.
Tendulkar struck 85 runs off 115 balls to help India reach 260 for 9 in 50 overs against Pakistan. The visitors were swept out for 231 in their chase and lost by 29 runs.
Ajmal concluded his brilliant but contentious career with 178 wickets in 35 Tests, the final of which came in Colombo, Sri Lanka, in 2014.
His golden year was 2011, when he shone with the ball in all forms, particularly Tests. With 50 wickets in eight Tests this year, he was the leading wicket-taker.
On April 19, 2015, he played his final One-Day International (ODI) against Bangladesh at the Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium in Mirpur. Ajmal took 184 wickets in 113 One-Day Internationals, at a bowling economy of 4.18.
