Pakistan spinners, including Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Qadir, believe spin will play an influential role in the World Cup despite the general belief that since the tournament is being held in New Zealand and Australia it will be dominated by paceman.
Pakistan spinners, including Saeed Ajmal and Abdul Qadir, believe spin will play an influential role in the World Cup despite the general belief that since the tournament is being held in New Zealand and Australia it will be dominated by paceman.
"No doubt fast and medium pace bowlers will be important on the pitches found there but any team which undermines the role of spinners will suffer in the long run," champion off-spinner, Saeed Ajmal cautioned.
Ajmal, who delivered a telling spell in the last World Cup semi-final against India at Mohali in 2011, felt particularly in Australia spinners would play a dominant role.
"In Australia spinners tend to get more bounce and that helps them a lot and it also induces miscued shots from the batsmen. And this extra bounce is especially helpful for leg-spinners," said Ajmal, who had to miss the World Cup due to his bowling action problems.
Pakistan's former captain and leg-spinner, Mushtaq Muhammad agreed with Ajmal pointing out that with five fielders required to be inside the circle for most part of the match, spinners were better bets to contain the runs.
"Teams which field genuine leg-spinners will have a big edge and I think Pakistan is good in this regard as they have not one but two leggies in Afridi and Yasir Shah," Muhammad said.
The former skipper noted that in any Indo-Pak one-day game the role of spinners had always been great.
"Teams should not underestimate the role of spinners because even if a team loses some top order wickets the spinners are the ones who will plug in the runs in the middle overs," he said.
Pakistan's leg spin wizard, Abdul Qadir pointed out that on the opening day itself Daniel Vettori and Rangana Herath had bowled effectively and also took four wickets in the New Zealand and Sri Lanka match in Christchurch.
"Even in New Zealand the spinners showed how important a role they can play either as containers or wicket takers. I have a feeling in this World Cup some spinners are going to be major wicket-takers and will help their sides do well," Qadir said.
He pointed out that even when Pakistan had won the 1992 World Cup, spin of Mushtaq Ahmed and even Aamir Sohail had played a vital role in Pakistan's bowling.
"Even though conditions and rules are tailor made for batsmen these days spinners can dominate because they rely on wile and their ability to spin the ball."
Pakistan's former left-arm spinner, Iqbal Qasim said that he would like to see Pakistan build their bowling strategy between the 15th and 40th overs around Ysir Shah, Afridi and Haris Sohail.
"These three will play stellar roles if Pakistan is going to do well against India and throughout the tournament," he said.
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