Former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has recently revealed that he was shocked to see the removal of the off-spinners Ravichandran Ashwin (from the ODI) and Harbhajan Singh from the Indian national cricket team.
Saqlain Mushtaq was one of the legendary off-spinner who managed to pick up 496 wickets in 218 matches. He is surprised to see that the Indian team is not using the off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin in the ODI format in the present days.
Saqlain told PTI, “Class is permanent whether you are a finger-spinner or wrist-spinner. Your skills, game reading abilities matter a lot. I was surprised when Ashwin was sidelined from one-day cricket.
“He knows how to get batsman out in the five-day game, which is much tougher than limited overs cricket. Anyone can do the containment job but someone who knows how take wickets can contain also. He knows both. How can you keep him out? You have to back your best players.”
The 33-year-old Ashwin played his last limited-overs match for India on 9th July 2017 during the Kingston T20I against West Indies. Though he is still playing regularly in Test cricket, the Indian team management doesn’t consider him for the ODI format.
Saqlain has the same feeling for the veteran Indian off-spinner Harbhajan Singh. Harbhajan last time played for India in March 2016 during the Asia Cup 2016 (T20I format). Saqlain feels that Ashwin and Harbhajan still can play together for the Indian team.
Saqlain continued, “They sidelined Bhajji (Harbhajan Singh) at the expense of Ashwin back then. After Ashwin, you have tried many off-spinners but none of them has been of his class.
“In fact, I was surprised when a great like Bhajji was dropped. Both Ashwin and Bhajji have different styles and could have easily played together in the playing eleven. If two right-hand pacers can play regularly, why not spinners?”
Harbhajan Singh could have easily taken 700 Test wickets: Saqlain Mushtaq
Harbhajan has taken 711 international wickets, including 417 wickets in 103 Tests. Saqlain believes that Harbhajan could have easily taken 700 Test wickets.
The former Pakistan off-spinner said, “Such was Bhajji’s class that he could have easily taken 700 Test wickets (ended at 417 wickets in 103 Tests).”
Saqlain Mushtaq is confident that both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will play 100 Tests
However, Saqlain feels that the Indian spin-bowling culture is still very good while the Pakistan spin-bowling culture is declining. He has been also impressed with the Indian left-arm chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja etc. Meanwhile, Saqlain isn’t much impressed with the Pakistan leg-spinner Yasir Shah‘s present form and also believes that youngster Shadab Khan is still work in progress.
Saqlain added, “The spinners you have are pretty good actually. Kuldeep has been impressive, Ashwin and Jadeja have been doing well consistently. They are world- class bowlers. In fact Pakistan is struggling a bit on that front. Yasir Shah has done well but his form has dipped recently. Shadab is still a work in progress.”
Saqlain is sure that both Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja will play 100 Test matches each. While Ashwin has played 71 Tests, Jadeja is one match away from his 50th Test.