Controversies effect results: Saqlain

Saqlain Mushtaq has blames off-field controversies surrounding Pakistan cricket for team’s dismal performance.

LAHORE: Former Pakistan off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq has blamed the off-field controversies surrounding Pakistan cricket for the team’s dismal performance on the tour of England.

The tourists drew the Test series against Australia but were beaten 3-1 in the Test series against England before losing two Twenty20s and two One-Day Internationals.

“The circumstances that the team finds itself in are not good and in these conditions it is very difficult to obtain the on-field results that you want,” said Mushtaq. “No doubt there is a lot of pressure on the players’ mind and you can’t perform well unless your mind is free from all the unwanted pressure.

“While the pressure from the matches is always there but there are so many other problems to cope with due to the circumstances which hampers performance.”

Allegations can ‘kill players’

The International Cricket Council (ICC) provisionally suspended Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir over spot-fixing allegations while Wahab Riaz was questioned by Scotland Yard but all four were allowed to go without any charges pressed against them.

“Players levied with fixing charges come under great pressure and the allegations kill them. This happened with me as well but I argued that if I was found guilty then I should be hanged otherwise the accuser should face the same penalty. So these are grave allegations and should be handled with care.”

‘Uneducated’ cricket in Pakistan

Mushtaq, who has recently finished his 12-month contract with the New Zealand cricket team as their bowling consultant, also blamed Pakistan’s lack of planning for the dismal results.

“Our country is full of talented players but unfortunately we play uneducated cricket as compared to the rest of the world. When I talk to a Pakistani player and than talk to an English player, I feel a huge difference in their playing approach and the planning they have done with their cricket.”

Published in The Express Tribune, September 17^th, 2010.