Sport | Cricket
I have been a victim of sledging, says Mushtaq Mohammad
Former Pakistan skipper Mushtaq Mohammad revealed that he was one of the first victims of Australian sledging.
- By K.R. Nayar, Staff Reporter
- Published: 17:29 February 7, 2008
- Mushtaq Mohammad, former captain of the Pakistan cricket team, is releasing his autobiography titled 'Inside Out' on February 15.
- Image Credit: Ahmed Ramzan/Gulf News
Dubai: Former Pakistan skipper Mushtaq Mohammad revealed that he was one of the first victims of Australian sledging.
"I was a victim of Australian sledging in the seventies. It was during Pakistan's tour to Australia in 1972-73 that they started using sledging as a weapon. They kept remarking 'you are a bloody park cricketer,' said Mushtaq's in a candid interview to Gulf News.
"They kept telling me that I was not good enough to be playing in Australia and that I am nothing more than a park cricketer. It was very annoying," added Mushtaq, who also had to endure Australian skipper Ian Chappell's arrogant behaviour.
Recalling those awful days, he says, "In the Sydney Test, their leg spinner John Watkins kept bowling outside the off stump moving further away. Although wicketkeeper Rodney Marsh had to collect the ball at first slip, the Australian umpire refused to call it a wide.
"And when I looked at the umpire in surprise, Chappell came rushing and screamed that my job was to bat and not that of an umpire. It was a terribly ill mannered behaviour."
Great team
Unable to forget the incident, he continued: "I was batting at 70 and my partner Asif Iqbal at the other end reminded me that it was their method to disturb my confidence. Later we went on to win that match with Sarfraz Nawaz and Imran Khan destroying their batting."
Mushtaq played for Pakistan when they were one of the strongest teams in the world. Unfortunately, the team failed to sustain its reputation.
"During the seventies we were a great team individually but not collectively. We had stars like Asif Iqbal, Majid Khan, Zaheer Abbas, Sadiq Mohammad and Sarfraz Nawaz.
"Our skipper Intikhab Alam was too gentle a person, and unfortunately for him all his team members were strong characters. He just could never get the team to gel together," he admitted.
Mushtaq also went on to reveal how Pakistan squandered the chance of lifting the 1999 World Cup when he was the coach of the team.
"I had advised our captain Wasim Akram to put them into bat if we win the toss as the ball swings very early at Lord's. Unfortunately, an argument broke out in the team meeting and players like Saeed Anwar and Inzamam Ul Haq felt we should bat first.
"It drizzled before the start and again I asked the captain to consider bowling. Of course, once the decision was taken, I backed the captain fully; but we were bowled out for 132 in 39 overs and Australia won the match easily."
Talking about the recent happenings in Pakistan cricket, especially Shoaib Akhtar being denied a contract by the board, Mushtaq said.
"Akhtar is a great fast bowler but he should realise that he has some responsibilities as a player too. In our time too we had characters like him, especially Sarfraz Nawaz.
"For me, it is not important how they lead their life as long as they give 100 percent on the field. If Akhtar believes that he is bigger than the game, then he is wrong."
On whether Shoaib Malek or Younis Khan would make a better captain, he noted: "Khan is a very creative captain. He is tactically far ahead than Malek and is a great performer too."
Mushtaq is here to release his autobiography 'Inside Out' on February 15.
"Since I have many stories to tell, I decided to write this book after 26 years. Some are good, some bad and some controversial," he concluded.
Fact file: Mushtaq Mohammad
- Born: November 22, 1943 in Gujarat, India.
- Played for: Pakistan, Karachi. Northamptonshire.
- Captain: Captained Pakistan from 1976 to 1979.
- Tests: Played 57 Test matches and scored 3643 runs with ten centuries, 19 half centuries and took 79 wickets.
- One-dayers: Played 10 One-dayers scored 209 runs and 23 wickets.
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