Mushtaq Ahmed also attained an iconic status when he announced his retirement from the first class cricket. It is indeed a defining moment as more than the country, which he represented (Pakistan), the country that he adopted for first class cricket (Sussex) paid handsome tributes to his contributions.

Following in the footsteps of his illustrative peers, Mushtaq Ahmed announced his retirement from the first class cricket, and the retirement had nothing to do with loss of his form, but the knee injury, as it had forced his other members of the likes of Shane Warne, Anil Kumble, Abdul Qadir etc.

As a matter of fact Mushtaq Ahmed had more illustrative flourish in the country cricket, when he started playing for Sussex, than he had with the Pakistani Cricket Team. Honing his skills under the tutelage of Abdul Qadir, and playing at a time in the Pakistani Cricket Team when likes of Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus, etc., were playing Mushtaq did not have a place of permanence in Pakistani team.

When he got the same, the world was his oyster, as he showed in the 1992 World Cup, which was won by Pakistan, and the catalyst for this victory was provided by the wizardry of wrist spin demonstrated to perfection by Mushi, as he was popularly known to his team-mates. He had the same honeymoon with Sussex as well, and during his association with this country for five years, he blossomed to perfection and the trophies that Sussex won are a living testimony about the same.

Mushtaq was instrumental in winning three country championships for Sussex, a C&G Trophy, and the Totesport Division -II title. In his illustrative career of six years with Sussex, Mushtaq scalped 598 victims in all competitions. Encomiums have been showered on him and the staff and administrators associated with Sussex have gone on the record to claim that the void that Mushtaq Ahmed leaves behind would be difficult to fulfil.

His legendary skills with the ball were in full demonstration when he trapped Graeme Hick of England with his famous Googly in the 1992 World Cup finals. When he was not playing fro Sussex, Mushi was also assisting Bob Woolmer as a coach of Pakistani cricket team. He was the first bowler in five years who scalped 100 victims in an English season. His wrist had prodigal powers and he could spin the bowl from leg stump to off-stump.

One often wonders, whether in their effort to spin the bowl more the leg spinners put more pressure on their knees and have to hang the boots when wobble does not allow them to bamboozle the batsman. History would only tell whether the success that he achieved in the English season was on account of the path that was opened for him by the likes of Shane Warne and he carved a niche for himself on this path.

Comments

Add New RSS

3.25 Copyright (C) 2007 Alain Georgette / Copyright (C) 2006 Frantisek Hliva. All rights reserved."

Newer news items:

Older news items: