Saqlain Mushtaq

Name : Saqlain Mushtaq
Born : 29-12-1976, Lahore, Punjab
Batting style : Right-hand bat
Bowling style : Right-arm offbreak

Profile

A trend-setter. Saqlain Mushtaq was perhaps the first offspinner to master the doosra, a delivery that spins away from the batsman even though it is delivered with an offspinner's action. Saqlain has a fast, short-stepping action with a halting delivery, and has a propensity to bowl no-balls, unusually for a bowler with such a short run. He is criticised for attempting too much variation and he often throws in the doosra the first time a batsman faces. Saqlain's international career got off to a splendid start - he was the fastest bowler to 100 one-day wickets, and his phenomenal control meant that he regularly bowled at the death. But his finest moment arguably came in a Test match, at Chennai in 1998-99, when his ten-for allowed Pakistan to sneak nerve-tingling 12-run win against India. However, his stock has fallen a long way since then, with Shoaib Malik, a better batsman than Saqlain, usurping the spinner's spot in the ODI line-up and Danish Kaneria becoming the frontline Test spinner. Saqlain did get an opportunity to have a go at the Indians again in the 2003-04 series, but unflattering figures of 1 for 204 at Multan meant that he was quickly consigned to the scrap heap. He was unable to force his way back ahead of Danish Kaneria and he was blighted by injury after a prolific time with Surrey. However, his career was given a lifeline in 2007 when he joined Mushtaq Ahmed at Sussex and there was even talk of him qualifying for England. That could remain a distant dream, after signing a contract with the unsanctioned Indian Cricket League. Indeed, his ICL contract forced Surrey to severe ties with him after the 2008 season, ending his 11-year relationship with The Oval.

Early life

Saqlain was born on 29 December 1976, in Lahore to a government clerk. He has two elder brothers, Sibtain, who also played first-class cricket for Lahore, and Zulqurnain. Saqlain played for Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) college for three years and college won the Championship each year.Saqlain never played cricket at school level, but start paying cricket in Zariff Memorial Club Second Eleven when he was only 13. He always wanted to be an off-spinner: " I never wanted to be a quick bowler. I was very skinny and never had too much strength in the body." Saqlain was coached by his brothers, and Ahmed Hassan at the club level. At the age of 14 and went to the MAO College where he was coached by Mumtaz Akhtar Butt. He played for the college and won the championship for three consecutive years.

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.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.Saqlain became well known for this variation ball, which was integral to his success, although he received criticism for overusing it.Other bowlers like Shoaib Malik, Saeed Ajmal, Muttiah Muralitharan, Ajantha Mendis, Johan Botha and Harbhajan Singh also used this delivery in international cricket.

During his time at Surrey, Saqlain worked on developing new deliveries which he called the "teesra" which means "third one" and the "chotha". He used the teesra in the Indian Cricket League (ICL) while playing for Lahore Badshahs. Russel Arnold of Sri Lanka was the first player to face the teesra. He was also the first batsman to get out from a teesra as well. However little else is known about these deliveries.Later, this delivery was used by Saeed Ajmal against England in 2012.

His other variation was the arm ball, which again uses a similar grip as the off-break, but imparts a back-spin instead of a side-spin, and causes the ball to go straight on without turning.