Ajmal turned down offer to become Twenty20 skipper

LAHORE: Star Pakistani spinner Saeed Ajmal has said that he declined an offer to captain the national T20 side because he wanted to be “relaxed” about his cricket. In an interview with Cricinfo, Ajmal said he was reluctant to take up the captaincy, which was offered to him after Mohammed Hafeez’s resignation in April, because he felt he was better as a team player. “I don’t want to put myself forward for captaincy. I think I am better as a team player. I do think about being captain of Pakistan, but I am reluctant too,” Ajmal said. “Captaincy in Pakistan is not easy. The captain ends up being blamed for anything that goes wrong. Just look at Mohammad Hafeez. He resigned after our exit from this year’s World T20. Why? It’s because all the blame was being dumped on him. I have been approached for captaincy but I declined. I want to be relaxed about my cricket. God has blessed me with a sunny disposition and I want to keep it that way.” Hafeez had quit following the team’s group-stage exit from the World T20 and the selectors are still looking for a T20 captain. Pakistan’s next T20 match is against Australia in October as their short tour to Sri Lanka in August does not include any T20 games. Ajmal also praised Misbah-ul-Haq’s performance as captain, saying it was better than former Pakistan captain, Imran Khan. Ajmal said Misbah has been criticized unfairly despite being one of the leading run-getters in the side.