Saqlain set for second stint as England spin guru

London, July 28

Pakistan off-spin great Saqlain Mushtaq is set for another spell as an England coaching consultant, highlighting how fluid national allegiances can become when a cricketer’s playing days are over.

Saqlain was brought in by England ahead of the recent second Test against Pakistan at Old Trafford.

In the build-up he found himself working with both off-spinner Moeen Ali and leg-break bowler Adil Rashid, although only Ali of the pair made it into the XI that won by 330 runs with more than a day to spare to level the four-match series at 1-1.

Saqlain’s former Pakistan team-mate Mushtaq Ahmed, is carrying out a similar role with the tourists in more of a permanent capacity.

Prior to taking up his Pakistan role, former leg-spinner Mushtaq was England’s spin-bowling coach.

Off-spin legend Muttiah Muralitharan, Test cricket’s all-time leading wicket-taker, has come under fire for working with Australia in their ongoing series in his native Sri Lanka.

By contrast the atmosphere between English and Pakistani officials has been far more cordial.

That’s partly because, as this is Pakistan’s first tour of England since their infamous 2010 spot-fixing debacle at Lord’s, both sides are desperate to let their cricket do the talking.

It is also a reflection of their multi-national backroom staffs, with England head coach Trevor Bayliss an Australian and his Pakistan counterpart, Mickey Arthur, a South African.

Added to all that, Pakistan fielding coach Steve Rixon, the former Australia wicket-keeper, and Bayliss—who made his name internationally as Sri Lanka coach—were once team-mates in the same New South Wales side.

Meanwhile Bayliss was in no doubt about the impact someone like the 39-year-old Saqlain, who took 208 Test wickets at under 30 apiece in 49 matches, could make, even in a part-time role. — AFP