Mushtaq Ahmed

Mushtaq Ahmed

Personal information
Full name	Mushtaq Ahmed
Born	28 June 1970 (1970-06-28) (age 39) Sahiwal, Punjab, Pakistan
Height	5 ft 4 in (1.63 m)
Batting style	Right-handed
Bowling style	Right arm leg break
Role	Bowler
International information
National side	Pakistan
Test debut (cap 116)	19 January 1990 v Australia
Last Test	24 October 2003 v South Africa
ODI debut (cap 69)	23 March 1989 v Sri Lanka
Last ODI	3 October 2003 v South Africa
Career statistics
Competition	Test	ODI	FC	LA
Matches	52	144	303	380
Runs scored	656	399	5059	1624
Batting average	11.71	9.50	15.66	11.27
100s/50s	0/2	0/0	0/20	0/0
Top score	59	34*	90*	41
Balls bowled	12532	7543	69402	18913
Wickets	185	161	1388	461
Bowling average	32.97	33.29	25.46	28.47
5 wickets in innings	10	1	103	4
10 wickets in match	3	–	32	–
Best bowling	7/56	5/36	9/48	7/24
Catches/stumpings	23/–	30/–	118/–	59/–
Source: Cricinfo, 5 April 2008

Mushtaq Ahmed (Urdu: مشتاق احمد) (born 28 June 1970 in Sahiwal) is a retired Pakistani cricketer who specialised as a leg spin bowler. He was known for his hard-to-pick googly. He memorably trapped Graeme Hick in front with one during the 1992 World Cup final. He was a Wisden Cricketer of the Year in 1997. Nevertheless, despite taking over 150 One Day International and Test wickets, he hasn't played international cricket since October 2003. He is now the spin bowling coach for the England Cricket Team.

However, he has played a lot of county cricket in England, including for Somerset and Surrey earlier in his career and more recently for Sussex.

In 2003, Mushtaq was the leading wicket taker in county cricket, finishing the season with 103 and inspiring Sussex to its first County Championship title. Following this, he was recalled by Pakistan but was soon dropped for being ineffective. In the 2004 season, Mushtaq was again the leading wicket taker in English county cricket with 84 scalps, but with Danish Kaneria's emergence as Pakistan's first-choice leg spinner, Mushtaq looks unlikely to play for Pakistan's national side again.

In December 2006, the PCB appointed Mushtaq as assistant coach of the Pakistan team.^[1] He acted as interim coach for team's final game of the 2007 World Cup following the death of Bob Woolmer.^[2]

In 2006, Mushtaq (or "Mushy" as he is best known to Sussex fans) took 102 wickets as Sussex once more won the County Championship, as well as the C&G Trophy. He began the last Championship match of the season, against Nottinghamshire, on 89 wickets, but a haul of 13 in the match (including a career-best 9-48 in the second innings) took him past the hundred mark once again.

In 2007, Sussex won the County Championship for the second time in two years, again helped greatly by Mustaq, who took 90 wickets.

[edit] Domestic career

Mushtaq Ahmed had an amazing turn of fortune in 2002 when he was given a trial by Sussex County Cricket Club. He became the leading county wicket taker for four seasons in a row, playing a major role in Sussex's first ever county championship title.

On the 27 August 2008, it was announced by Sussex that Mushtaq was to retire from county cricket due to persistent knee trouble that had prevented him playing regularly during the 2008 season. ^[3] He announced his intention to continue playing for Indian Cricket League (ICL) side Lahore Badshahs and in an interview with PakPassion.Net in September 2008, he wished that ICL would co-exist with IPL as well as mentioning his intention to begin coaching either in UK or Pakistan.^[4]

Recent County Performances
Year	Wickets	Average	5/10 wicket hauls
2003	103	24.65	10/5
2004	82	27.14	6/2
2005	80	26.73	4/1
2006	102	19.91	11/4
2007	90	25.66	8/3