SAQLAIN MUSHTAQ

'Saqlain Mushtaq' (Urdu: 'ثقلین مشتاق') (born December 29, 1976 in Lahore, Punjab) is a Pakistani cricketer, an off spin bowler. He is best known for pioneering the delivery known as the "doosra" and to a lesser extent its follow-up, the "teesra".

Contents

Career

Domestic career

Playing style

Records

Personal life

See also

References

External Links

Career

Saqlain made his international debut against Sri Lanka at Peshawar in September 1995. He immediately impressed, picking up four wickets at an average of 26.75 in the first test of the series.^[1] The highlight of his Test career came in the series away against India in January/February of 1999, where he achieved his first ten-for.^[2] In the first test, with India needing only 17 runs to win, Saqlain effectively sealed Pakistan's win by taking the big wicket of Sachin Tendulkar who had scored 136.^[3] 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.^[4][5]

Domestic career

Saqlain played county cricket for Surrey for eight successful 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.
In August 2005 he recovered from the injury for a three-day match against Bangladesh A, in which he took 4-87 from 35 overs bowled over two innings.^[6] However that same week, in his return to the County Championship, he conceded 110 off 28 overs against Gloucestershire, taking just one wicket.^[7]
In February 2006 he signed for Ireland for the C&G Trophy, along with fellow team mate Abdul Razzaq.Saqlain signs for Ireland: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 26 February 2007.^[8]
A year 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.Sussex swoop for spinner Saqlain: 'BBC Sport' Retrieved 26 February 2007.

Playing style

Saqlain is credited with inventing the delivery known as 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.^[9] Saqlain became well-known for this variation ball, which was integral to his success, although he received criticism for overusing it.Saqlain Mustaq - Player Profile: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 25 February 2007.
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.
During his time at Surrey, Saqlain worked on developing a new delivery which he called the "teesra."^[10] However little else is known about this delivery.

Records

★ Saqlain was selected as a Wisden Cricketer of the Year for 2000.

★ A statistcal analysis conducted by Wisden in 2003 revealed Saqlain as the all-time greatest ODI spinner, and sixth greatest of all ODI bowlers.^[11]

★ Was the fastest to reach the milestones of 100, 150, 200 and 250 wickets in ODIs.^[12]

★ 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).^[13]

Personal life

After his major injury in 2004, Saqlain spent almost three years out of cricket, actively promoting the religion of Islam in local communities.
After marrying a British citizen, Saqlain gained a British passport, which will make him eligible to play for England after a four-year qualification period ends in April 2008.^[14]

See also

★ Doosra

References

1. Pakistan v Sri Lanka, 1995/96, 1st Test: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 27 April 2007.
2. Statsguru - Saqlain Mushtaq - Test Bowling - Series averages: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 27 April 2007.
3. Pakistan in India, 1998/99, 1st Test: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 27 April 2007
4. Test Series 1998/99 Averages, India v Pakistan: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 27 April 2007.
5. Pakistan in India, 1998/99, 2nd Test: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 27 April 2007.
6. Surrey v Bangladesh A scorecard: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 26 February 2007.
7. Surrey v Gloucestershire scorecard: 'BBC Sport' Retrieved 26 February 2007.
8. Abdul Razzaq signs for Ireland: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 26 February 2007.
9. What is a doosra?: 'BBC Sport' Retrieved 25 February 2007.
10. What is the 'doosra'?: 'BBC Sport' Retrieved 25 February 2007.
11. All-time W100 ODI Top 10s: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 26 April 2007.
12. ODIs: Fastest to reach multiples of 50 ODI Wickets: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 25 February 2007.
13. One Day Internationals - Hat Tricks: 'Cricinfo.com' Retrieved 25 February 2007.
14. Saqlain considers England option. ''Cricinfo.com.'' Retrieved on 2007-07-16.

External Links

★ Cricinfo.com - Saqlain Mushtaq's Player Profile