Mushtaq Ahmed | Sportzwiki

Mushtaq Ahmed

The role of the batting coach was Younis Khan's first full-time appointment with the PCB since his retirement in 2017 Getty Images
The role of the batting coach was Younis Khan's first full-time appointment with the PCB since his retirement in 2017 Getty Images
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Pakistan Batting Coach Younis Khan And Pakistan Cricket Board Mutually Agreed To Part Ways

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Younis Khan, Pakistan Cricket Board, and Pakistan men’s national cricket team batting coach on Tuesday mutually agreed to part ways. Younis Khan was appointed last year in November on a two-year contract until the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

Pakistan Head coach and chief selector, Misbah-ul-Haq had advised the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to appoint former skipper Younis Khan as a full-time batting coach of the Pakistan National Cricket Team.

Former Pakistan batting coach Younis Khan
Former Pakistan batting coach Younis Khan (Courtesy: PCB Media)

Younis Khan And Pakistan Cricket Board Mutually Agreed To Part Ways: Wasim Khan

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and the men’s cricket batting coach on Tuesday mutually agreed to part ways. The former Pakistan batsman was appointed last year in November on a two-year contract until the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2022.

“It is sad to lose an expert of the stature and experience of Younis Khan. Following a series of discussions, we both have reluctantly but mutually and amicably agreed that it was time to move in different directions,” said PCB chief executive Wasim Khan.

Wasim Khan (Getty Images)
Wasim Khan (Getty Images)

“I want to thank Younis Khan for his contributions during his short stint as the Pakistan men’s national cricket team’s batting coach and hope he will remain available to assist the PCB by sharing his vast knowledge with the emerging cricketers,” added Wasim.

Both PCB and Younis Khan have agreed not to make any further comment on the reasons for the former captain’s departure. Pakistan men’s cricket team will travel to the United Kingdom without a batting coach, while the decision to appoint Younis Khan’s replacement for the West Indies tour will be made in due course.

Younis Khan Was Appointed Ahead Of Pakistan’s England Tour To Join Misbah ul Haq, Waqar Younis, And Mushtaq Ahmed

Younis Khan was appointed ahead of Pakistan’s tour of England last year to join head coach Misbah ul Haq, bowling coach Waqar Younis and spin-bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed in the team management. That was also his first appointment with the PCB since his retirement in 2017.

File image of Misbah-ul-Haq (R) and Waqar Younis (L) | WILLIAM WEST / AFP
File image of Misbah-ul-Haq (R) and Waqar Younis (L) | WILLIAM WEST / AFP

Pakistan had mixed results since he took over as batting coach. In five overseas Tests in England and New Zealand, Pakistan drew two and lost three before beating South Africa across formats – both home and away – followed by a successful tour to Zimbabwe.

Pakistan men’s national cricket team will tour England from 25 June to 20 July for three ODIs and three T20Is, while the West Indies tour will be from 21 July to 24 August where the visiting team will feature in five T20Is and two Tests.

Younis Khan is the only Pakistan player to score 10,000+ Test runs and  Pakistan’s highest run-scorer in Test cricket with the most centuries. He is also the only player to score Test hundreds in all 11 countries. He announced his ODI retirement in November 2015 after having announced his T20I retirement in 2009.

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Pitch Was Very Flat: Mushtaq Ahmed Backs Pakistan Bowlers Despite A Poor Show In Southampton

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Pakistan spin bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed has backed his bowlers who were thrashed by England in the first innings of the third and final Test match at Rose Bowl in Southampton. The hosts ended the first day’s play at 336 for four with a 5th wicket partnership of unbeatable 205 runs between Zak Crawley and Jos Buttler.

Crawley, 22, got his maiden Test century and stood at 171 unbeaten at the end of the first day’s game. The second Test of England vs Pakistan was drawn after rain played the spoilsport.

Back then, the teams were frustrated to not have completed the match as the pitch conditions were very favourable for the bowlers and the match was turning out to be a competitive one. England had the lead coming into the second match after they dramatically won the first Test match at Old Trafford in Manchester.

England, Pakistan
Image Credit: ICC Twitter

The wind made it difficult for the bowlers: Mushtaq Ahmed

Former Pakistani cricketer Mushtaq Ahmed, who is the current spin bowling coach for the Pakistan team blamed the conditions after visitors’ bowlers looked off-colour against English batting line-up. He blamed the pitch to be very flat and the continuous wind for the bowlers to lose their length.

“It was quite tough. The weather played a huge role. The pitch was very flat, and the toss was vital on that pitch. And because the wind was there the whole day, it was very difficult for the bowlers to control their line and length consistently.

“It was tough especially for young bowlers like Naseem [Shah] and Shaheen [Shah Afridi]. They are new to Test cricket but they made a huge effort and they can be proud of it,” ESPNcricinfo quoted Ahmed as saying.

Mushtaq Ahmed, Yasir Shah, England vs Pakistan, Mushtaq Ahmed,
Mushtaq Ahmed. Image Credit: Getty Images.

“I think we are working on how to deal with being under pressure. When the opposition attacks your young bowlers, it naturally is difficult for them to handle it. But obviously, the credit goes to Crawley and Buttler. They played very well, and this is a flat first-day pitch. The wind made it even tougher, and that’s not an excuse, but it’s also reality,” he added.

Pakistan need to bowl out England in the first session on day two under 400: Mushtaq Ahmed

Ahmed feels that Pakistan need to bowl out England in the first session on day two well under 400 to have a space of three and a half days to try and achieve the massive target ahead of them.

“We need to try and bowl them out in the first session under 400. That leaves us with over three-and-a-half days and an opportunity to put up a big total ourselves,” he said.

Mushtaq Ahmed appointed as assistant coach of Pakistan
Mushtaq Ahmed, Credits: Twitter

Unfortunately, the play was stopped on the second day due to rain. Jos Buttler stands at 91 runs and Zak Crawley will resume his innings at 171 when the game restarts.

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Mushtaq Ahmed, Yasir Shah, England vs Pakistan, Mushtaq Ahmed,
Mushtaq Ahmed. Image Credit: Getty Images.
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England vs Pakistan 2020: Mushtaq Ahmed Reckons Yasir Shah And Shadab Khan Will Be Lethal

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Pakistan’s spin bowling consultant Mushtaq Ahmed is confident that the spinners Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan would play a key role for Pakistan in the ongoing Test series against England. He heaped praise on the duo after they demolished England’s attack in the first inning of the opening Test match.

Cricket pundits had doubted Pakistan’s success with two spinners in the playing XI but Yasir and Shadab had silenced all the critics.

The former bowled an impressive spell, picking the prized wicket of England captain Joe Root. He returned with the figure of four for 66 from 18 overs on Friday. His spinning partner Shadab Khan demolished the lower-order, picking the wicket of Jofra Archer and James Anderson. He also amassed crucial 45 runs in the first innings.

Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan can be lethal: Mushtaq Ahmed

Yasir Shah
Yasir Shah. Image Credit: Getty Images.

Pakistan had given the target of 277 runs to England which is not easy to chase at the Old Trafford pitch. And with the visitor’s bowling attack, the host would have further fewer chances to get across the line.

Mushtaq Ahmed believes that Yasir and Shadab, who haven’t played for five-six months, have got back the momentum. He added that the duo has better understood the pitch would surely guide the team to get the lead.

“Yasir and Shadab have hardly played much cricket for the last five or six months, but the way they bowled in the first innings I think they’ve got the momentum now. They understand the pitch and what pace you need to bowl on it, what fields you need to have to different batsmen.

“I think they are feeling confident in their bowling now. Yasir especially, I think he started a bit nervously but we can understand that and I think he then bowled well and now if we set a good target, they can be lethal out there,” added Mushtaq, who previously held a similar position in England’s backroom staff.

Meanwhile, as of now, Mohammad Abbas had got the wicket of Rory Burns on the fourth day before lunch break. Dom Sibley and Joe Root are at the crease as England have put 55 runs on board.

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Mushtaq Ahmed
Mushtaq Ahmed has emerged as a strong contender to take up the bowling coach role of Sri Lanka (Image Courtesy: Khyber News)
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Mushtaq Ahmed: Players Are Coping With The New Regulations With Regards To Shining The Ball As Well

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Pakistan spin-bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed feels that the Pakistan players are handling the new ICC regulations very well, which have been changed for an interim period due to the coronavirus pandemic, including not applying saliva into the ball.

Pakistan will resume their international cricket journey with the three-match Test series in the England tour, which will begin in the early next month. This Test series will also be the part of the 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship. The Pakistan team will end this England tour with the subsequent three-match T20I series.

Pakistan players
Pakistan Test team (Image Credit: Twitter)

While the COVID-19 or coronavirus is still dominating the world, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has made some crucial interim changes in the regulations to bring the game sooner, including banning applying saliva into the ball to stop the transmission of the virus. Pakistan’s spin-bowling coach Mushtaq Ahmed has now claimed that the Pakistan players are coping with the new regulations with the time progress.

Mushtaq Ahmed, Pakistan players
Mushtaq Ahmed (AP Photo/K.M. Chaudary)

Mushtaq said according to the official website of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), “Despite the Covid-19 related challenges, the players have been exceptional so far. We are trying to make them familiar with the protocols and they have responded wonderfully well. Players are coping with the new regulations with regards to shining the ball as well.

“Historically, spinners have used saliva to shine the ball now they are being taught new methods in lieu of the revised ICC rules and regulations.”

I am happy with the start we have made: Mushtaq Ahmed

As the tour will go on with the very lesser people involvement, Mushtaq feels that the players are going to be very important, who have to be the team person in every aspect. The Pakistan spin bowling coach is very happy to see that the team is adapting to the condition with the time progress.

Mushtaq Ahmed, Pakistan players
Mushtaq Ahmed (Image Credit: Twitter)

He added, “This tour is being played in extraordinary circumstances. There are no spectators, there are hardly any journalists either to analyse the teams or the game. Players need to inspire each other, back each other and support each other to the hilt. I am happy with the start we have made; we are getting accustomed to the environment and conditions and still have a long time to go before the start of the series.”

England are currently busy in the three-match home Test series against West Indies, which began on this Wednesday (8th July) at Southampton. After this series, Ireland will tour in England for the three-match ODI series.

Then Pakistan will play the international series against the hosts England from 5th August to 1st September 2020.

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Younis Khan, Pakistan Under-19, Head Coach
Photo Credit: Getty Images.
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Younis Khan, Mushtaq Ahmed Added In Pakistan Coaching Staff For England Tour

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Pakistan is now focusing seriously for the upcoming England tour as the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has appointed the former captain Younis Khan as the batting coach of the men’s team. Also, the former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has been added as the spin-bowling coach of the men’s team for the forthcoming England tour.

Due to novel coronavirus pandemic, the Pakistan tour of England 2020 has been postponed, which was initially scheduled from late July to early September. As the international cricket is returning in England in the early next month with the three-match Test series against West Indies, the PCB is hopeful about their England tour. The revised schedule of this Pakistan tour of England can be announced soon as the talks are going on.

Pakistan, batting coach, spin-bowling coach
Pakistan Test team (Image Credit: Twitter)

In this upcoming England tour, Pakistan will play the three-match Test and three-match T20I series. The Test series will be part of the 2019-21 ICC World Test Championship.

While Misbah-ul-Haq is the present Head Coach of the Pakistan team and Waqar Younis is the present pace-bowling coach of this side, the PCB has now added two more specialised coaches for the England tour. In this forthcoming tour, the 42-year-old Younis Khan will handle the batting coach position. The 49-year-old Mushtaq Ahmed will play the role of spin-bowling coach.

Talking about the appointment of the new batting coach, the PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan said according to the press release, “I am delighted that someone of the stature and incredible batting record of Younis Khan has agreed to join the Pakistan cricket set-up as national men’s team batting coach. When I spoke with him, his commitment and enthusiasm to take up this assignment and serve his country was never in doubt and he jumped at the opportunity.”

Younis Khan, Pakistan, batting coach
Younis Khan (Image Credit: Twitter)

“Younis’ work ethics, commitment to match preparation, game awareness and tactics in the English conditions will be invaluable. He is a role model to a number of current players and is hugely respected. I have no doubt that the squad will benefit from the immense value that he will bring, both on and off the field.”

Wasim Khan also spoke about the reason for Mushtaq’s appointment as the spin-bowling coach for the England tour.

Mushtaq Ahmed, Pakistan, spin-bowling coach
Mushtaq Ahmed (Image Courtesy: Khyber News)

Khan added, “Mushtaq knows the English conditions as well as anyone, having spent a lot of time playing county cricket and working with the England cricket team. Apart from guiding the spinners and playing a mentor’s role, Mushtaq can be helpful to Misbah in match planning and preparations.

After he retired from the game in 2008, Mushtaq Ahmed has spent a great time in the various spin-bowling coach roles. As a spin-bowling coach, he served for England cricket team, Surrey County Cricket Club etc. In 2014-2016, he was Pakistan’s bowling consultant. In November 2018, during West Indies tour of Bangladesh, Mushtaq was the assistant coach and spin consultant of the Caribbean side.

The Pakistan side includes some immensely talented cricketers who have the potential to achieve greater heights: Younis Khan

On the other hand, Younis Khan feels a great honour to take the new responsibility of his national team. He is excited to join and work with the present Pakistan team.

Younis claimed, “For me, there has never been a bigger honour and a better feeling than to represent my country and I feel privileged to have been again offered the opportunity to serve it for a challenging but exciting tour of England.”

Younis Khan, Pakistan, batting coach
Younis Khan (Photo Credit: Getty Images)

“The Pakistan side includes some immensely talented cricketers who have the potential to achieve greater heights. Together with Misbah-ul-Haq, Mushtaq Ahmed and Waqar Younis, we will try to make them better and prepare them as best as we can with on and off field coaching and guidance.”

While Younis ended his cricket career in 2018, he was reportedly offered for the coaching role for the Afghanistan national cricket team. However, he was reportedly declined that offer.

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Ravichandran Ashwin, Nathan Lyon
Ravichandran Ashwin and Nathan Lyon (Image Credit: Twitter)
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Mushtaq Ahmed Cites Lack Of Variations As The Reason Behind Ravichandran Ashwin, Nathan Lyon’s Poor ODI Record

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Former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed feels seasoned campaigners Ravi Ashwin and Nathan Lyon have failed to translate their red-ball success into limited-overs cricket. He feels a lack of variation could be one of the main reasons behind their not so impressive outings in coloured clothing.

Mushtaq Ahmed Cites Lack Of Variations As The Reason Behind Ravichandran Ashwin, Nathan Lyon's Poor ODI Record 1
BCCI Twitter

Mushtaq Ahmed sheds light on Ashwin, Lyon’s shortcomings in white-ball cricket

Ashwin has bagged 365 wickets in 71 Tests, while Lyon has scalped 390 sticks in 96 Tests. Pakistan’s Yasir Shah enjoys similar success in Test cricket as he picked 213 wickets in 39 Test matches. All three of them have been a vital cog in the respective line ups.

“Look at Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. They have won so many (white ball) games for India in the last two years. Maybe the likes of Lyon, Ashwin, and Yasir don’t have enough variations to survive in one-day cricket,” Mushtaq, who has picked more than 340 international wickets, told PTI in an exclusive interview.

Mushtaq had previously coached the England national cricket team. He has worked closely with someone like Graeme Swann, who was impressive during his playing days. The 49-year-old feels spinners should be categorized based on formats.

Mushtaq Ahmed
Mushtaq Ahmed. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

He feels Test cricket is the ultimate format for spinners as it tests their skills. Mushtaq admires the likes of Yasir Shah, Moeen Ali, Nathan Lyon, and Ravi Ashwin. According to him, the contribution of these spinners has been tremendous.

“In one -day cricket, if the pitches are good and you don’t have variations or a mystery ball, you can’t survive. For example, a champion bowler like Lyon has been exposed in one day cricket. He has not been as successful as he has been in the longest format.” Mushtaq Ahmed added.

Lyon, 32, found it tough to break into the Australian limited-overs side. He has played mere 29 ODIs since making his debut in the shorter format back in 2012. Furthermore, he doesn’t have much to show in the shortest format either; having played just 2 T20Is.

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Richard Pybus, Reifer
Photo Credit: Getty Images.
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Richard Pybus Likely to Lose Windies Head Coach Job Ahead of the ICC World Cup 2019

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Windies head coach Richard Pybus is likely to be removed after completing tenure of little over three months with the Caribbean team. Under his tutelage, the Caribbean team has not only improved, but they had challenged a high-quality team like Three Lions in every aspect ahead of the ICC World Cup 2019.

Pybus has recently supervised the home-bound Test series against England. Interestingly, hosts won the three-match Test series 2-1.

Apart from the traditional format, Pybus saw the Windies equalling 2-2 five-match ODI series against the number-one ranked ODI team; England.

Richard Pybus, Windies, Head Coach,
Pybus also had a coaching stint with Bangladesh. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

In the meantime, owing to the temporary basis, Pybus’ contract was signed until the culmination of the twelfth edition of the World Cup. The quadrennial event will commence from May 30 in London.

However, the newly-appointed CWI president Ricky Skerritt will supervise a meeting, next week. The boarding meeting has set its focus on an assessment of the coaching formation.

“A cricket review process is underway. Announcements will be made following our board meeting on Tuesday,” Skerritt told ESPNcricinfo.

Pybus succeeded Stuart Law, who stepped down from the top-brass post in September 2018, to nurse the English County team Middlesex.

Earlier, in January Windies board had named Pybus as an interim chief coach for the ICC World Cup 2019.

“That [Pybus being appointed as interim coach] has been a vexatious sort of issue,” Skerritt said.

Earlier, the Leewards Island Cricket Board (LICB) has raised questions over the appointment of Pybus. The Leewards believed the Cricket West Indies (CWI) has been handpicked Pybus with the influence of its former president Dave Cameron.

Richard Pybus, Windies, Head Coach, Dave Cameron
Cameron lost his place. Photo Credit: Getty Images.

As Cameron’s term of six years has come to an end, Skerritt is aiming to overhaul the Windies cricket.

Skerritt has also served as a team manager for the Windies.

He is keen to introduce the country’s experience rather than relying on overseas coaches.

“I have to tell you that we believe very strongly in localising the expertise that we put behind our teams and we believe only in bringing in non-Caribbean expertise only where it is not available across the region. We want to be sure that the team does well at all times with the possible resources but we also have to make sure that they have a Caribbean support team around them,” Skerritt inferred.

Between 2013 and 2016, Pybus has served as the Director of Cricket for the Windies. In February 2018, he further became the high-performance director before shouldering the responsibility as a chief coach.

While a focus on the domestic fold, many termed Pybus’ role ‘divisive’ as a director. During his tenure, he made local competition compulsory for the senior players for their selection across formats. But this led to the protest from players who preferred to play for distinct Twenty20 leagues across the globe.

On the other side, former leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who’s serving Windies as an assistant coach will have his agreement ended, according to the reports carried by ESPNcricinfo.
The Pakistan veteran joined Windies in October 2018 as a coach.

Windies will open their World Cup campaign on May 31st against Pakistan at the Trent Bridge.

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Mushtaq Ahmed
Mushtaq Ahmed has emerged as a strong contender to take up the bowling coach role of Sri Lanka (Image Courtesy: Khyber News)
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Sri Lanka Cricket Mulling to Hire Mushtaq Ahmed as a Bowling Coach

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Sri Lanka Cricket (SLC) is considering the idea of hiring the services of former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed as their spin bowling coach.

Mushtaq was a willy customer during his playing days and might be a good prospect for Pakistan to have. Since the retirement of Muttiah Muralitharan, Sri Lanka hasn’t found an able replacement owing to the slow bowling.

Though Rangana Herath held the fort following Murali’s retirement in the longest format of the game. However, we must consider the fact that he is already 40 and is likely to call it quits very soon.

Moreover, the step to hire Mushtaq should be a welcome move. It will be a refreshing change in the support staff of the Sri Lankan team.

The team went through the worst possible year in their history in 2017. The Islanders lost almost all the series they played that year.

The only bright spot came at the end of the season when they won the Test series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Sri Lanka began 2018 on a poor note too before beating Bangladesh in all three formats, in their own backyard.

Sri Lanka Cricket Mulling to Hire Mushtaq Ahmed as a Bowling Coach 2
Mushtaq Ahmed (Image Courtesy: Dawn)

Also Read: IPL 2018: Adam Milne Aims to Win Some Games for Mumbai Indians

Following the appointment of Chandika Hathurusingha as the head coach of Sri Lanka, things have stabilized a lot. The team is looking a settled unit and should move forward in a positive manner.

As per reports in the news, Mushtaq has emerged as a strong contender for the post of their spin bowling coach. He expressed his desire to don the coaching hat and help the Sri Lankan team.

Mushtaq Ahmed has previously worked with England and Pakistan and has an abundance of experience in the field.

Meanwhile, SLC is also in search of a fielding coach ahead of their next series.

The Lankans are set to tour the Caribbean shores in the last week of May. They will lock horns against the home side in a three-match Test series.

Similarly, the first of the three-match series will be held from 6th June. The final match of the tournament will start from 27th of the same month.

Sri Lanka Cricket Mulling to Hire Mushtaq Ahmed as a Bowling Coach 3
Sri Lanka Cricket team (Image Courtesy: Cricket Country.com)

Also Read: VVS Laxman Wishes Muttiah Muralitharan on His 46th Birthday

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Mushtaq Ahmed appointed as assistant coach of Pakistan
Mushtaq Ahmed appointed as assistant coach of Pakistan
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Emphasis Is On Mental Toughness And Physical Fitness In The NCA Camp Says Mushtaq Ahmed

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Former Pakistan leg spinner and National Cricket Academy head coach Mushtaq Ahmed said on Thursday that greater importance should be given to enhancing the player’s fitness and mental toughness level in the high-performance camp which is in progress at the National Cricket Academy (NCA).

“It is a very important venture [camp] where the coaches are working on different aspects of the game even basics of the game which will never change besides focusing on improving players’ fitness and mental toughness [levels] which help them in becoming great cricketers at international level,” Mushtaq was quoted as saying by the Dawn while giving inputs on the first two weeks of the 10 weeks long training camp.

The 47-year-old Mushtaq conceded that the primary objective of the camp is to enhance the player’s skills and improve their performance level so that they acquire those abilities to perform for their team in a high-intensity match and in international competitions where the stakes are very high. They must keep pushing themselves for achieving their targets.

“If a player has the capacity to run five kilometres, we are motivating him through various physical drills to take his effort level to seven kilometres. This capacity building will definitely be an added advantage for him in his international career,” Mushtaq quipped.

The former leggie termed the long duration of the camp as the “component of the modern cricket system” and said this camp will surely help the players enhance their skills and will help them reach that level of mental toughness that it is required in the highest level of cricket.

During his peak in his international career, Mushtaq wasn’t far behind Shane Warne with a bag full of tricks but what made Warne unique and special was his in drift and rip. Mushtaq modelled his bowling around his idol Abdul Qadir and though he wasn’t as successful as his idol, Mushtaq donned the Pakistan colours in 52 Tests and 144 ODI’s and played an instrumental role in Pakistan’s only World Cup victory till date in 1992.

Some of his best bowling performance came away from home in Australia and England and the bounce in those pitched helped him get more purchase. While he bagged 185 wickets in Tests, his ODI numbers were 161 in 144 matches.

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