Former coach Mushtaq backs Pakistan to win Champions Trophy despite selection concerns

BIRMINGHAM: Former captain and coach of Pakistan cricket team Mushtaq Mohammad says he feels extremely proud of making it into the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Hall of Fame. Represented Pakistan in 57 tests from 1959-1979, Mushtaq scored 3,643 runs and took 79 wickets. In 1959 when he made his test debut against West Indies while he was just 15 years and 124 days old, he became the youngest cricketer to play test cricket. 

Mushtaq during that time also led Pakistan in 19 test matches in two stints. Under his leadership, Pakistan defeated Australia twice on their home soil, drawing the series on both occasions a rare feat for Pakistan cricket. For his services towards Pakistan cricket as a player, captain and later as coach Mushtaq was included in PCB’s Hall of Fame. Speaking to Geo News Mushtaq said that he is grateful to PCB for this achievement.

“I’m extremely grateful to the Pakistan Cricket Board that they’ve included me into this prestigious club which includes all the past great cricketers of Pakistan this indeed is a proud moment for myself”.

Mushtaq, now 81 years old, comes from the most decorated cricketing family of all time. His elder brothers Wazir Mohammad and Hanif Mohammad (late) as well as younger brother Sadiq Mohammad and nephew Shoaib Mohammad also represented Pakistan internationally, while his other elder brother Wazir Rares Mohammad (late) was an extremely competitive first-class cricketer.

In fact late Hanif Mohammad was and still is regarded as the biggest cricketing icon of Pakistan cricket, who was also made part of Hall of Fame in 2021. Paying tribute to his brother Hanif Mohamed, Mushtaq said that it’s a proud moment for him and the family that both brothers are now entered into PCB’s Hall of Fame.

“Hanif bhai is an icon of Pakistan cricket and of course of our family too. Such a great cricketer belongs to our family and is without doubt an honour for our family. His services to Pakistan cricket, not only as a player, but also as an administrator are second to none. He’s given great performances for Pakistan all over the world”.

Like others, Mushtaq is also very excited about the upcoming ICC Champion’s trophy which Pakistan will be hosting from February 19. He termed it as not only a great moment for Pakistan cricket but also for the fans and players.

“I’m very excited that I will be watching our team in action on home soil in a global cricketing tournament. Like all others, I am also hoping and praying that our boys will not only do well but will defend the title too. As a home team, we should and must do well in this tournament as it will be extremely beneficial for the future of cricket in Pakistan”.

“Great cricket players from all over the world will be coming to Pakistan and watching them in action will not only encourage the budding cricketers but also the cricket fans to come to the stadiums and watch them play in this prestigious tournament, the first to take place in Pakistan since 1996 cricket World Cup”.

Despite his best wishes for the home team to do well in the tournament Mushtaq also has some reservations over the squad selections, especially the lack of another regular spin bowling option which makes the bowling attack of Pakistan weaker compared to the batting. But he thinks that the inclusion of all-rounders in the squad will be beneficial as they have done well in ICC tournaments.

“I'm not fully satisfied with the squad selection. In my opinion, a couple of players who have made it into the squad shouldn’t be there. Our batting is looking stronger compared to the bowling attack but hopefully, the number of all-rounders chosen in the squad will do well”

“Under the conditions of Pakistan, in my opinion, our team is a spinner short in the squad, Especially someone like Sajid Khan who’s done well for Pakistan in home conditions in recent months. He’s not only a genuine off-spinner but also bats well in lower down the batting order as number 8 or 9. Not having someone like Sajid Khan in the squad is not fair to him. Whatever the squad, now our responsibility is to back these players”, he added further.

Criticising the India cricket team over not coming to Pakistan for the Champions Trophy and choosing to play their matches in UAE instead, Mushtaq told Geo News that he’s extremely disappointed by the Indian Cricket Board's decision, as previously whenever the Indian team has visited Pakistan they always enjoyed not only the great hospitality of Pakistani people but also the huge support from their Pakistani fans.

“Indian cricket team should have come to Pakistan, the entire cricketing world wanted them to come to Pakistan. I can’t understand what their issue is. We have proven in the past that we are excellent hosts who always look after the visiting teams in the best possible manner. Pakistan always go to India without raising any objections but when it’s time for Indians to visit Pakistan they always make lame excuses to not come to Pakistan”.

“Their attitude is not good for the game of cricket especially for the cricket fans in Pakistan as they will be deprived of watching Indian players who’re without doubt among the best in the world in action in front of them. Indian team has a huge fan following in Pakistan and for them, it is very disheartening”.