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.
