Sporting legends: Saqlain Mushtaq: The Master of the Doosra in off spin - Career HLs , video

 


Saqlain Mushtaq, born on December 29, 1976, in Lahore, Pakistan, is regarded as one of the finest off-spinners in cricket history. Renowned for inventing the "doosra," a delivery that turned the opposite way to a conventional off-break, Saqlain revolutionized spin bowling. His deceptive variations, accuracy, and ability to thrive under pressure made him a key player for Pakistan during the 1990s and early 2000s.


Style of Play

Saqlain was a right-arm off-spinner who brought innovation and guile to his bowling. He was a master at outwitting batsmen with his flight, drift, and spin, coupled with his revolutionary "doosra." As a lower-order batsman, Saqlain provided crucial runs and showcased his fighting spirit.


Career records 

Records in Test Cricket

Matches: 49

Wickets: 208

Bowling Average: 29.83

Best Bowling in an Innings: 8/164

Best Bowling in a Match: 10/155

5-Wicket Hauls: 13

10-Wicket Hauls: 3

Runs: 927

Batting Average: 14.48

Catches: 15

HS  101*


Records in ODI Cricket

Matches: 169

Wickets: 288

Bowling Average: 21.78

Best Bowling: 5/20

Economy Rate: 4.29

5-Wicket Hauls: 6

Runs: 895

Batting Average: 11.33

Catches: 26


First-Class Record

Matches: 194

Wickets: 833

Bowling Average: 23.72

Best Bowling in an Innings: 8/30

Runs: 5,223

Batting Average: 22.14

HS  201*


Career Highlights

Saqlain became the fastest bowler to reach 100 ODI wickets, achieving the milestone in just 53 matches. He played a pivotal role in Pakistan’s triumph in the 1999 World Cup, finishing as one of the tournament’s leading wicket-takers. In Test cricket, his spellbinding performances, including several five-wicket hauls, cemented his reputation as a match-winner.


Major Bowling Performances


4/75 vs India, Chennai, 1999: Saqlain's match-winning spell in the famous Test where Pakistan defeated India by 12 runs.


8/164 vs England, Lahore, 2000: A career-best performance that demonstrated his mastery of spin on a turning track.


5/20 vs England, The Oval, 2001: One of the finest ODI bowling performances, showcasing his ability to dominate in limited-overs cricket.



Legacy

Saqlain Mushtaq’s contribution to cricket goes beyond his records. By introducing the "doosra," he added a new dimension to spin bowling and inspired a generation of spinners. He was pivotal in shaping Pakistan’s bowling dominance during his era and remains a revered figure in cricket. Post-retirement, Saqlain transitioned into coaching, sharing his expertise with teams worldwide. His influence on modern spin bowling ensures his enduring legacy as one of the greatest off-spinners of all time.

Watch Saqlain Musthaq's 10 wickets vs Indua at Chennai 1999 in a display of great skill

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Olympics24 : Julien Alfred of St Lucia becomes fastest woman on earth by winning 100 mtrs

Image
  Saint Lucia's Julien Alfred did wonders to put her country in the Olympics map by beconing the fastest woman on earth . Before the semi-finals, when Jamaica's Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce withdrew, everyone thought Sha'Carri Richardson would easily win the gold. She was expected to become the world's fastest woman. However, Sha'Carri disappointed. St. Lucia's Julien Alfred won the gold in the women's 100 meters at the Olympics, finishing in 10.72 seconds. Sha'Carri secured the silver by finishing second, while America's Melissa Jefferson took bronze. The event was delayed slightly due to rain before the race. Despite the wet track, Julien seemed unaffected. She took the lead right from the start and maintained it until the end. Despite her efforts, Sha'Carri couldn't catch up. Julien set a national record by finishing in 10.72 seconds. Her celebration after winning gold showed how significant this victory was for her and her country. Sha'Car...
Read more

Olympics24 : China dominates TT with 5th consecutive title , France retain volleyball gold , some other event results

Image
  China successfully defended their Golds medal in the men’s table tennis team event with an emphatic 3-0 victory over Sweden at the Olympic Games Paris 2024. This marks their fifth title in the men’s team event, a competition they have dominated since its debut at the Olympic Games Beijing 2008. Host nation France secured the Olympic TT bronze in the men’s event by defeating Japan 3-2. In the women’s table tennis competition, China continued their dominance by winning their fifth consecutive gold medal with a 3-0 victory over Japan. This victory also marked China’s historic 300th Olympic gold medal. Japan took home the silver, while Korea Republic earned the bronze, their first medal in the team event since 2008. In badminton, Denmark’s Viktor Axelsen successfully defended his men’s singles Olympic gold, defeating Thailand’s Kunlavut Vitidsarn in straight sets. Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia won the bronze after a three-set victory over India’s Lakshya Sen. Lee Yang and Wang Chi-lin of C...
Read more

Olympics24 : Ten men India edge out Britain in tie breaker to storm into hockey SF

Image
  India reached the Olympic hockey semifinals by defeating Britain in a shootout. The match ended 1-1 in regulation time, leading to a shootout where India won 4-2. India played with ten players for 42 minutes to secure the victory. In the semifinals, India will face the winner of the Germany-Argentina match. A win in Tuesday's match will ensure a silver medal for last time's bronze winners at the Paris Olympics. Following the advice of video umpire , Indian defender Amit Rohidas was shown a red card in the fourth minute of the second quarter for unintentional stick contact with a British player’s head. Video umpire Goyentzen suggested it was intentional, and South African field umpire Sean Rapaport recommended a red card, resulting in India playing the rest of the match with ten players. This is the first red card issued in this Olympic hockey tournament. Despite this, India remained undeterred. Coach Craig Fulton adjusted the strategy after going down to ten players. Captain ...
Read more