Sporting legends : Mushtaq Mohammad: Pakistan's versatile cricketer & former captain - Career HLs , video

 



Mushtaq Mohammad (born 22 November 1943, Junagadh, Gujarat, British India) is one of Pakistan’s most versatile and influential cricketers. A member of the legendary Mohammad cricketing family, he grew up in Karachi and emerged as a prodigious talent—making his first-class debut at just 13 and later becoming one of Pakistan’s finest all-rounders.

Style of Play

Batting

  • Right-handed batsman
  • Elegant stroke-maker with supreme timing
  • Capable of both long, patient innings and aggressive counter-attacking
  • Strong through the off-side, excellent driver and cutter
  • Renowned for adaptability across conditions

Bowling

  • Leg-spin bowler
  • Relied on sharp googly and well-disguised variations
  • Effective partnership-breaker and capable of running through sides on helpful pitches

Fielding

  • Safe, athletic fielder
  • Excelled close to the wicket—particularly in slips and short-leg
  • Known for fast reflexes and game awareness

International Career Highlights (In Detail)

Test Career

Mushtaq played 57 Test matches for Pakistan between 1959 and 1979.

  • Runs: 3,643
  • Batting Average: ~39.17
  • Centuries: 10
  • One of Pakistan’s main middle-order pillars during the 1960s-70s
  • Scored Pakistan’s first double century on English soil
  • Finest batting years came as senior statesman in the early/mid-70s

As a bowler

  • 79 Test wickets at an average of ~29
  • Delivered match-winning spells against England, New Zealand, Australia
  • His googly was widely regarded as one of the best of his generation
ODI record - 10 matches 209 runs 34 average no wickets .

Captaincy Record

Mushtaq was one of Pakistan’s most tactically astute captains.

  • Tests as captain: 19
  • Won: 8
  • Lost: 5
  • Drawn: 6

He led Pakistan to:

  • A historic series victory over New Zealand (1973)
  • A landmark drawn series in Australia (1972–73)
  • Major progress in consistency and professionalism within the team

First-Class Record

Mushtaq’s first-class career is legendary.

  • Matches: 502
  • Runs: 31,091
  • Batting Average: 48+
  • 100s: 72
  • Wickets: 936
  • One of the rare players with 30,000+ runs AND 900+ wickets
  • A giant of county cricket with Northamptonshire

He was one of the best all-rounders of his era in domestic cricket anywhere in the world.

Best Batting Performances (In Detail)

201 vs England, The Oval, 1971

  • Pakistan’s first double hundred in England
  • Defined by elegant drives and solid defense
  • Carried Pakistan to a strong position and earned global acclaim
  • A turning point in Pakistan’s batting confidence overseas

121 vs Australia, Melbourne 1972–73

  • Masterclass against Dennis Lillee and Jeff Thomson
  • Scored under hostile pace and bounce
  • Set the tone for Pakistan’s drawn series
  • Regarded as one of the greatest Pakistani innings in Australia

150 vs New Zealand, Lahore 1976

  • Commanding innings as captain
  • Anchored Pakistan’s big total
  • Helped secure a comfortable series win

Best Bowling Performances (In Detail)

5/28 vs New Zealand, Karachi 1976

  • A devastating spell of googlies and quick-turning leg-breaks
  • Broke New Zealand’s middle order single-handedly
  • Set up an easy victory for Pakistan

5/32 vs England, Lord’s 1967

  • Came during a crucial partnership
  • Troubled English batters with drift and deceptive spin
  • Marked one of the best overseas bowling performances by a Pakistani all-rounder

4/60 & 3/40 vs Australia, 1972–73

  • Key spells in a match that shaped Pakistan’s series success in Australia
  • Removed big names with tactical brilliance

Legacy

Mushtaq Mohammad remains one of Pakistan’s most influential cricketers ever:

  • Among the earliest world-class all-rounders Pakistan produced
  • Key architect of Pakistan’s rise in Test cricket in the 1970s
  • Pioneer of modern captaincy—attacking fields, bravery in declarations, player empowerment
  • One of the most successful Pakistani players in English county cricket
  • Inspired and mentored future greats, including Imran Khan
  • Part of the iconic Mohammad family legacy with Hanif, Sadiq, Wazir and Raees
  • His rare feat of 30,000+ first-class runs and 900+ wickets places him in cricket’s all-time elite

Mushtaq’s contribution to Pakistan cricket—both as a player and captain—helped lay the foundation for the team’s future triumphs on the world stage.


Watch glimpses of Mushtaq Mohammad 's  classy knock vs West Indies in the 1975 World cup 

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