Saeed Ajmal has charmed the world of cricket with his exceptional bowling talents and his folksy charm. This article is based upon a full audio interview with Ajmal where he tells us about his thought on his past performance and his plans for the upcoming Pakistan Vs South Africa Series.

Since making his Pakistan début just weeks before his 31st birthday, Saeed Ajmal's career has been in an upward spiral - attaining new heights of excellence at every showing.

Ajmal’s rise follows a path not too dissimilar to other budding cricketers, though admittedly, he took a little longer in arriving at his destination. His years of hard work in domestic cricket finally paid off when he was named in the squad for the 2008 Asia Cup that was held in Pakistan.

Ajmal got the call-up that he had dreamed of as a boy, with a début against arch-rivals India. He picked up his maiden international wicket, Yusuf Pathan, in the process – and Pakistan celebrated a spectacular victory over their old foes.

If Ajmal thought it couldn’t get any better than that, he was in for a surprise.  In 2009, he (and his '[I]doosra[/I]') exploded onto the world scene in the 2009 ICC World T20.

The fiery Faisalabadi finished the tournament as one of the leading wicket takers – and with a World Cup winners' medal. He was hailed as the most effective and accomplished exponent of the [I]doosra [/I]on the world stage after that tournament. It is interesting that Ajmal learnt this mesmeric art without any coaching. "Nobody taught me how to bowl the 'doosra' - it is self taught, mostly by studying video footage of Saqlain Mushtaq", stated Ajmal in his exclusive interview with PakPassion.net.

Two of the foremost bowlers of the [I]doosra [/I]through the 1990s and 2000s have been Sri Lankan spin wizard Muttiah Muralitharan, and Pakistani pioneer and legend Saqlain Mushtaq. Both are off-spinners who have deeply impressed Ajmal, and made a mark on his career. "Muralitharan is a great bowler, and he is a very humble individual. Even though he is such a huge star, Murali is always willing to offer help and advice whenever I have approached him", were Ajmal's glowing words of praise for the Test world record holder from Sri Lanka.

However, Ajmal also rates Saqlain very highly, if not higher; "I rate Saqlain higher than Murali, simply because Saqlain was the one who invented the Doosra", said Ajmal. "He is a great bloke too, and has been a great help to me. Whenever I have approached him, he has given me valuable tips; for instance, when I was in England this summer, we discussed about how to make my off-break better", Ajmal continued.

Saeed Ajmal's doosra has routinely flummoxed the best batsmen in the world; in particular, in the shorter forms of the game, no batsman has looked comfortable scoring off him. Those who have attempted to attack his bowling have often been outfoxed by the wily off-spinner, with probably the sole exception of Michael Clarke, the Australian vice-captain and one of the best natural players of spin bowling of his era.

"Michael Clarke is one player who reads my '[I]doosra[/I]' better than most. His footwork is amazing, especially when he comes down the wicket. He doesn't try to smash you. He can even cut you while coming down the wicket", stated Ajmal.

In addition to his Twenty20 and ODI excellence, Ajmal is now also considered an established Test cricketer. He came into the side for the axed Danish Kaneria and batted heroically against a rampant England attack in his first Test of the 2010 summer. Ajmal notched up his maiden first class half-century at Edgbaston, as he and debutant Zulqarnain Haider finally provided Pakistani fans with something to smile about, with a fighting 100 run partnership for the eighth wicket. Ajmal also picked up his maiden international 5 wicket haul in that Test, and was the chief tormentor of England's ace batsman Kevin Pietersen.

Ajmal is now preparing for the series against South Africa, which starts in the UAE towards the end of this month. He is in characteristically confident mood, but also under no illusions as to the task ahead. "Jacques Kallis is the main threat to us and I am going to target him. I am sure Insha Allah (God willing) that I will be the highest wicket taker of the series", was Ajmal's positive message for his many fans on PakPassion.net.

It is this unpretentious yet confident attitude that has endeared him to Pakistani fans and made him a fan favourite. At a time when Pakistani cricket and its cricketers are at their lowest ebb, the fans can gain some consolation from a character such as Saeed Ajmal, who appears to be genuinely relishing the opportunity to represent Pakistan and win honours for his country.