Mushtaq Ahmed used to uplift mood of whole dressing room with his great sense of humor: Nikkhil Chopra

Former Indian bowler Nikkhil Chopra, while talking about the Pakistan team, shared that the former spinner and the current spin bowling coach of Pakistan, Mushtaq Ahmed has a great sense of humour. It was after the Super 4 game of the Asia Cup 2022 between Sri Lanka and Pakistan on September 9, Chopra was caught in a candid conversation, as he also shared that Ahmed used to “uplift the mood” of the dressing room.

Ahmed, since last playing for Pakistan in October 2003, has been involved with the side’s dressing room since 2014 when he was first appointed as a bowling consultant. In 2016, he became the head coach of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy, before becoming the assistant coach and spin consultant of West Indies in 2018. On June 9, 2020, Ahmed was named as the spin-bowling consultant of Pakistan for their tour of England.

"I have heard so many stories about Mushtaq Ahmed,” said Chopra on CricTracker’s live show, presented by Bat Bricks7, ‘Run Ki Runneeti’. “Mushi jokes were incredible, I cannot tell them here, but he used to uplift the mood of the whole dressing room. He has a great sense of humor.”

Pakistan surrender to Sri Lanka in dead rubber

Meanwhile, in the Super 4 game in Dubai on Friday, both Pakistan and Sri Lanka came into the game having already qualified for the final. Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka won the toss and put Pakistan to bat first. Pakistan had a respectable start, scoring 49 runs in the six-over powerplay.

Pakistan, after being at 63 for one in 9.1 overs, lost their nine wickets for only 58 runs in ten overs, courtesy of top-class spin bowling by Wanindu Hasaranga and Maheesh Theekshana. Skipper Babar Azam was the top scorer for the Men in Green, scoring 30 off 29, and all-rounder Mohammad Nawaz chipped in with 26 off 18 balls in the middle. Hasaranga starred with the ball, picking three wickets for 21 runs in four overs, and Theekshana bagged two wickets for 21 runs in four overs.

Sri Lanka chased down the target of 122 in 17 overs with five wickets in hand. Opener Pathum Nissanka remained unbeaten on 55 off 48, and middle-order batters Bhanuka Rajapaksa and Shanaka contributed with 24 off 19 and 21 off 16 respectively. The two teams will meet again for the final on Sunday in Dubai.