Former cricketer and current Bangladesh spin-bowling consultant, Mushtaq Ahmed, has voiced his concerns regarding the recent dip in the performance of the Pakistan national cricket team, following their 2-0 defeat against Bangladesh in Rawalpindi.

In a recent interview, Mushtaq praised Bangladesh’s effort in the series, highlighting standout performances from Litton Das, Mehidy Hasan Miraz, and Nahid Rana. He further suggested that Pakistan’s lack of confidence was evident. 

"Before saying what went wrong with the Pakistan team, I must say that Bangladesh, our team, played good cricket. Lots of people think that they didn't play good cricket. Whenever we needed a partnership, Liton [Das] and Miraz stood up. That was a great partnership. When you needed somebody to bowl a very good spell, [Nahid] Rana got three to four quick wickets. So, those are the vital moments in which we played better than them," Mushtaq said.

"All I can say is that Pakistan perhaps lacked confidence. They weren't sure of what they were doing. Planning wise, I could see they were playing aggressive cricket without understanding the condition and situation unlike our guys. Overall, it was about Bangladesh players who played better than Pakistan cricketers," he added.

Mushtaq also commended Bangladesh’s captain, Najmul Hossain Shanto, for his leadership. 

"The credit goes to the whole team. [Najmul Hossain] Shanto has been very good as captain. I think it was a mixture of everything. It was a great achievement. They were very dedicated, worked really hard, and were together. I believe they had no doubt amongst themselves. If you don't have the belief, you can't challenge any team. Skill comes last. Belief comes first," he said.

The former legend praised the performances of Mehidy Hasan Miraz and former captain Shakib Al Hasan, emphasizing their impact. 

"It was outstanding. [Mehedi Hasan] Miraz was really good. The reason for that is he worked really hard, and Shakib [Al Hasan] got vital wickets in the first Test, especially in the second innings. One thing you should always remember is that if players put themselves under pressure in practice, Allah always gives them results. We also talked about angles, field positions, overspin, reading the pitch, and which area you need to bowl on; we communicated a lot during those Tests and even in training. The guys played with full passion and heart and the result speaks for itself," he said.

Regarding his role as Bangladesh’s bowling coach, Mushtaq expressed optimism about his future with the team. He also noted that he would not be available for the India series later this month due to prior commitments and family obligations. 

"I am very hopeful. My manager and agent are talking to the cricket board. Hopefully, if things become better, it will be a great honour for me to be part of this team because this team can do wonders," he said.

As things stand, I won't be there for the India series [later this month]. I have a few commitments in the next three-four months. There are a few family commitments as well. Maybe after December or January, I will try my best to serve Bangladesh cricket," he concluded.