http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Misbah-ul-Haq-c1972 explains Saeed Ajmal’s omission – Cricket News Update
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, claiming that he wanted to play an additional seamer owing to the conditions.
The visiting team was already 2-1 down following their batting antics from the previous game and when the team sheet was announced for the fifth ODI, many doubted Misbah’s decision of excluding their most consistent performer.
However, given the seamer friendly conditions on the tour, which saw pacers getting appreciable movement from the track, the Men In Green opted to include http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Mohammad-Sami-c77289. The veteran pacer had performed well in the early stages, before suffering injury. He had been deemed fit for the fourth ODI but the management resisted the option of playing three seamers.
However, the final deciding game saw him replace Ajmal, giving additional firepower to the pace department. That move ultimately proved decisive as Sami was battered all-round the park. His 9.4 overs went for a whopping 75, which included the final over of the match where he failed to defend 15 runs.
While Misbah claimed that it was a tactical change, he went onto admit that the move backfired to a considerable extent. Ajmal’s performances in the series have been well below par, where he has collected just three scalps at 40.66, while his economy rate of 4.88 is also on the higher side.
"I think given the conditions [we made that choice], the ball swings in the evening … It's a difficult decision to make, regarding the balance of the team. If we play two regular spinners, we miss the third seamer. Leaving out Ajmal though was a costly miss."
The skipper further defended Sami, claiming that anyone could have an off day. The seamer looked in inspiring form in the two T20s, and the first one-dayer, claiming at least one wicket in each bout until his uneventful display in the final ODI, which help Sri Lanka seal the series comfortably.
"Sami was in good form coming into this game. He bowled well in the Twenty20s and the first one-dayer. Anyone can have a bad day. He was a bit unlucky."
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