I wasn’t shy at all for speaking Urdu - Saeed Ajmal

Saeed Ajmal was one of Pakistan's best modern spinners, but because of his English, he was the subject of jokes. He wasn't the only one among the Pakistan cricketers who would embarrass themselves by using foul English on live television.

There was Inzamam ul Haq and Shahid Afridi, but Ajmal is undoubtedly the most talked about; his films speaking to Nasser Hussain over ten years ago are still popular on social media.

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Someone told Ajmal for the first time that he and other Pakistan cricketers were judged based on their English rather than their skill levels. The ex-Pakistan cricketer took full advantage of the chance and poured his heart out.

"When I became world number one, some people asked me to learn English, and I told them I will do what I wanted," Ajmal told cricwick.

"If you want to speak in my mother language, then go ahead. I wasn’t shy at all for speaking Urdu," he maintained.

Pakistani cricketers have been rated on their English skills all across the world over the years. In the past, viral videos of now-PCB chairman Ramiz Raja laughing at Inzamam while interviewing him went popular on social media. Several fans and comedians often mock Pakistan cricketers, and some of them have become memes.

“I am world number one; the world will come to me; I have no reason to go and ask for interviews,” added Ajmal during a podcast with cricwick.

“English language, I hate that word.”

“If you know English, you are good; if you are not, then you are bad wah yaar.”

Ajmal made his One Day International debut for Pakistan in July 2008, at the age of 30, and played his first Test a year later. He was reported for having a questionable bowling action in 2009, but after being cleared, he assisted Pakistan in winning the 2009 ICC World Twenty20. In 2011, Ajmal represented Worcestershire as an overseas player in English domestic cricket.

From November 2011 to December 2014, Ajmal was ranked one in ODI bowling by the International Cricket Council. Between October and December 2012, he achieved the same ranking in T20Is, but his greatest Test ranking was second between January and July of the same year.