Saeed Ajmal spoke to the media at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on the fourth day of the training camp held in preparation for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.

Saeed Ajmal spoke to the media at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore on the fourth day of the training camp held in preparation for the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.


On Ajmal's aims for the Sri Lanka Series.

I will aim to continue to maintain control as I have previously and InshAllah things will go well. In our previous series against Sri Lanka in Dubai I did very well. I was man of the series and also against England and I'm hoping to complete the hat-trick of awards against Sri Lanka and win the series for Pakistan.


On preparation for spin-friendly pitches in Sri Lanka.

I will be preparing for the matches regardless of whether the pitches will aid spin or not. We must perform for the team and prepare properly and have plans in place should the pitches not be conducive to spin bowling. We're going to Sri Lanka and our preparations are focusing on the assumption that the pitches will not spin, but be batting-friendly. If we do get spinning pitches, we will perform well. I also have a very good partnership with my team-mate Abdul Rahman and InshAllah we will play well.


The hype around the teesra and the potential for a fourth delivery.

Developing new deliveries takes a lot of effort! As yet I have no fourth delivery but my aim is always to have a lot of variety. I'll continue with the methods that have served me well so far, but will develop my variety in training. I'll let you know when I come up with a new delivery.


On the challenges in facing Sri Lanka.

We're putting in the effort and will try our best to perform in the manner we have been previously.


On the pressure on spinners in Sri Lanka given fast bowlers struggle, and Sri Lankans being good players of spin.

We have good fast bowlers. They will probably bowl in short sharp spells of five or six overs and it'll be the spinners who have to bowl the majority of the overs. We are ready for this. I'm confident that whichever fast bowlers are selected alongside Umar Gul will perform well and we will support them.


On Sri Lankan batsmen.

Sangakkara played very well last time the sides met. Samaraweera is in very good form. We are of course mindful of the fact that we will have to bowl out the whole side.


On fitness and injury.

You must have noted I've been playing in all three formats over the last couple of years and performing too. I am fully prepared and the camp is being played in the heat, as are the practice matches so we become used to the weather.


On improving his batting.

I have always tried to bat well although my time in the nets used to be limited. Now the bowlers have a full session in the morning and bat half an hour each in the nets where are given tips on improving. We have been improving – if you look at the last series, my batting is now in control. I used to be tentative but now even against fast bowlers I am more used to it. We are practising hard and if I can even contribute 15 – 20 runs it would be helpful to the cause.


Personal aims.

My aim is to be the number one test bowler and InshAllah I will achieve this. I'm 100% focused on this and working hard, the rest is up to Allah.


On the outcome of the tests, ODI and T20 series.

We have been playing very well in tests and should win. In One Day matches we have a balanced team. We will aim to win in all three formats.