Former Pakistan cricketer questions Mushtaq's appointment as spin-bowling coach

Former Pakistan cricketer Tanvir Ahmed has questioned the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB)'s decision to appoint wrist spinner and a veteran of 52 Tests, Mushtaq Ahmed, as the national team’s spin bowling coach and mentor for the England tour.

Earlier in October 2018, Mushtaq ended his stint as spin bowling coach of Pakistan’s National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Lahore, to take up a consultancy role with West Indies. Last year in December, he was again appointed as the spin bowling consultant at the NCA and was supposed to work for 120 days in a year at the academy with the U16, U19 and other domestic bowlers.

While speaking on his YouTube channel, Tanvir expressed his surprise over the aforementioned appointment considering the former spinner’s track record as a bowling consultant at the NCA.

“I am very unhappy with Mushtaq’s appointment. On what basis, the PCB has appointed him as the spin-bowling coach? Just because he has worked with the England team and played cricket there, the board has given him the role. In that case, make me the bowling coach as well because I also took six wickets on debut in Abu Dhabi,” said Tanvir

“Mushtaq was the bowling consultant in the National Cricket Academy for a year. How many bowlers did he produce? How many bowlers did he work with? The board paid him for a year just to occupy the position in NCA. His performance was zero percent there,” he added.

ALSO READ: Anderson, Broad in awe of Akram's memorable spell for Lancashire

Earlier today, PCB Chief Executive Wasim Khan and Pakistan’s chief selector-cum-head coach Misbahul Haq said Mushtaq’s vast experience will be beneficial for the Men in Green in England.

“Mushtaq knows the English conditions as well as anyone, having spent a lot of time playing county cricket and working with the England cricket team. Apart from guiding the spinners and playing a mentor’s role, Mushtaq can be helpful to Misbah in match planning and preparations,” Wasim said.

“Mushtaq Ahmed is loaded with the experience of helping elite cricketers from different countries and is widely regarded as a mentor. Mushtaq is always involved in the game and this attitude will further help us in our pre-series preparations and enhance our prospects in the series,” Misbah said.

Pakistan is scheduled to take on England in three Tests and three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), which will be played in August-September.