12 Facts about Saqlain Mushtaq - Pakistan’s Greatest off-spinner

Saqlain Mushtaq had a fast, short-stepping action with a halting delivery, had a tendency to bowl no-balls and was at times criticised for attempting too much variation. However, he was one of Pakistan’s premier off-spinners, who captured nearly 500 international, and 833 first-class wickets. Saqlain’s international career got off to a splendid start – he was the fastest bowler to 100 one-day international wickets, and his tremendous control meant that he regularly bowled at the death. In 2007, he joined Mushtaq Ahmed at Sussex and had a successful career with the county.

1. Birth:

Saqlain Mushtaq was born on 29^th December 1976 in Lahore, Punjab, Pakistan.

2. Early impressions:

Saqlain two elder brothers, Sibtain and Lahore also played first-class cricket in Pakistan and helped him with his game. Saqlain played for Govt. M.A.O College Lahore for three years and college won the Championship each year. Saqlain never played cricket at a school level, but start playing cricket in Zariff Memorial Club Second Eleven when he was only 13.

3. Domestic career:

Saqlain started his first-class career in 1994–95 at the age of 17. In his first season, he took 52 wickets and was selected to play for Pakistan A in a one-day tournament at Dhaka. In September 1995 took seven wickets for the PCB Patron’s XI against the visiting Sri Lankans. Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram called Saqlain the greatest off-spinner he had seen.

4. Test career:

Saqlain made his Test debut in September 1995 playing against Sri Lanka in Peshawar. He picked up 4 wickets in the match and 9 in the series playing in two Tests. In an away series against India in 1999, he achieved his first ten-wicket haul in a Test match. He took five-wicket hauls in the both innings of both the Test match. His career-best bowling in an innings came in November 2000, against England in Lahore when he took 8/164 in the first innings. The performance earned a man of the match award for him. Saqlain played 49 Test matches and accumulated 208 wickets at an average of 29.83. He took 13 five-wicket hauls and 3 ten-wicket hauls. His highest score in the format was 101* against New Zealand at in Christchurch. After leg-spinner Danish Kaneria becoming the frontline Test spinner for Pakistan, Saqlain did get an opportunity against Indians in 2003-04 series, but figures of 1 for 204 at Multan brought an end to his international career.

5. ODI career:

Saqlain made his ODI debut in September 1995 against Sri Lanka in Gujranwala. He could not take any wicket, but Pakistan won the match by 9 wickets.His first match-winning performance came against the same team in the final match of 1996 Singer Cup. He took 3 wickets in the match. His career-best is 5/20 against England in Rawalpindi in October 2000. He took five-wicket hauls in ODIs on six occasions.He claimed two hat-tricks, both against Zimbabwe, the first in 1996 and the second in 1999, when he became the first Pakistani to do so at a World Cup.

6. Doosra:

Saqlain is widely regarded as being the man who invented the doosra. Saqlain’s doosra was particularly hard to read and was his favourite wicket-taking option. He is proof that the doosra can be bowled legally. He was even called upon to rectify Saeed Ajmal’s bowling action after the latter was reported during Pakistan’s tour of Sri Lanka in 2014.

7. His website:

Saqlain has his own website, saqlainmushtaq.co.uk, through which he runs his academy called ‘Saqi, Cricket Academy,’ which is based in Leicestershire, UK. According to the website, “The Saqlain Mushtaq Cricket Academy aims to get children and young adults active, healthy and involved in the wonderful world of cricket. The objective of the academy is to provide international coaching at the grassroots level which in turn will produce match winning cricketers at club, county and district levels.”

8. His favourites:

Saqlain regards Richard Pybus as the best coach he worked under. He also pointed out Adam Hollioake and Wasim Akram as being brave, attacking captains, and considered Sachin Tendulkar, Brian Lara, Ricky Ponting, Aravinda de Silva, Rahul Dravid and Steve Waugh the best batsmen he bowled against.

9. Greatest cricketing moment:

Saqlain regards the Chennai Test against India in 1999 as his greatest moment. His 10 wickets in the match included Tendulkar’s wicket twice. Pakistan won this famous match by just 12 runs.

10. ICL:

Saqlain joined the Indian Cricket League playing for Lahore Badshahs in 2008 in a team comprising of players like Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Yousuf, Imran Nazir and Imran Farhat. The team were runners-up in 2008, and champions in 2008-09. He was registered for the IPL player auctions in 2010 but went unsold. It would be the only time he tried for an IPL berth.

11. Rare Honour:

Saqlain was named Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 2000.

12. Career with Ireland and West Indies:

After his international career with Pakistan, Mushtaq played List A cricket for Ireland in 2006 and took to coaching after his playing days to become the West Indies spin bowling coach.