Saqlain Mushtaq
| Personal information | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Batting style | Right-hand bat | |||
| Bowling style | Right-arm offbreak | |||
| Career statistics | ||||
| Competition | Tests | ODIs | ||
| Matches | 49 | 169 | ||
| Runs scored | 927 | 711 | ||
| Batting average | 14.48 | 11.84 | ||
| 100s/50s | 1/2 | -/- | ||
| Top score | 101* | 37* | ||
| Balls bowled | 14070 | 8770 | ||
| Wickets | 208 | 288 | ||
| Bowling average | 29.83 | 21.78 | ||
| 5 wickets in innings | 13 | 6 | ||
| 10 wickets in match | 3 | n/a | ||
| Best bowling | 8/164 | 5/20 | ||
| Catches/stumpings | 15/- | 40/- | ||
| Source: Cricinfo, 4 February 2006 | ||||
Saqlain Mushtaq (Urdu: ثقلین مشتاق) (born December 29, 1976 in Lahore, Punjab) is a Pakistani cricketer, regarded as one of the finest off spin bowlers of all time.[1] He is best known for pioneering the "doosra", which he employed to great effect during his career. Saqlain has not been active in international cricket since 2004.
Contents[hide] |
[edit] Career
Saqlain made his international debut in September 1995 playing against Sri Lanka at Peshawar.[2] He picked up four wickets at an average of 26.75 in the first test of the series.[3] The highlight of his Test career came in the away series against India in January/February 1999, where he achieved his first ten wicket haul in a test match.[4] In the first test, with India needing only 17 runs to win, Saqlain effectively sealed Pakistan's win by taking the wicket of Sachin Tendulkar who had scored 136.[5] He ended the series with excellent figures, taking twenty wickets at an average of 20.15, which earned him the Man of the Series award.[6][7]
[edit] Domestic career
Saqlain represented Surrey for eight successive seasons, from 1997 to 2004. However, his time there was interrupted and his international career with Pakistan effectively ended when he suffered a serious knee injury in 2004.[8]
In August 2005, he played his first match after recovering from injury against Bangladesh A, and took 4-87 from 35 overs bowled over two innings.[9] However that same week, in his return to the County Championship, he conceded 110 off 28 overs against Gloucestershire, taking just one wicket.[10]
In February 2006, he signed for Ireland for the C&G Trophy, along with fellow team mate Abdul Razzaq.[8][11]
Later in February 2007, Sussex announced that Saqlain had signed a two-year contract with them. His initial requirement was to cover for fellow Pakistanis, Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan who were part of Pakistan's World Cup campaign.[12] On 26 September 2007, Saqlain was released by the county on his request. On 8 October 2007 Saqlain was re-signed by Surrey.[13]
On 28th October, according to Cricinfo, he was released by Surrey.
In April 2009 he joined Old Whigiftians CC[14] to play in the Surrey Championship
[edit] Playing style
Saqlain is credited with the invention of the "doosra", an off-spinner's delivery which is bowled with an action very similar to that of an off-break.[8] However, it spins in the opposite direction (i.e. from the leg side to the off side), easily confusing batsmen, making it a very effective weapon.[15] Saqlain became well-known for this variation ball, which was integral to his success, although he received criticism for overusing it.[2]
His other variation was the arm-ball, which again uses a similar action to the off-break, but causes the ball to go straight on without turning.[citation needed]
During his time at Surrey, Saqlain worked on developing new deliveries which he calls the "teesra" and the "chootha".[16] However little else is known about these deliveries.
[edit] Records and achievements
- Saqlain was selected as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 2000.[2]
- A statistcal analysis conducted by Wisden in 2003 revealed Saqlain as the all-time greatest ODI spinner, and sixth greatest of all ODI bowlers.[1]
- Was the fastest to reach the milestones of 100, 150, 200 and 250 wickets in ODIs.[17]
- He is the only spinner to have taken a hat-trick in an ODI, and one of only three bowlers to have taken two ODI hat tricks (Wasim Akram and Chaminda Vaas being the others)[18], the second of which was only the second hat-trick in a World Cup match.[19][20]
[edit] Personal life
After his major injury in 2004, Saqlain spent almost three years out of cricket[12], actively promoting the religion of Islam in local communities.
After marrying a British citizen, Saqlain gained a British passport, which made him eligible to play for England after a four-year qualification period that ended in April 2008.[21]
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