England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) is looking to rope in Pakistan’s former Test spinner Saqlain Mushtaq on a short-term contract when England hosts Pakistan for two and a half months long later this summer.
The Guardian reported that ECB has approached the spin-wizard and that talks are underway.
Mushtaq donned Pakistan colours from 1995 to 2004, bagging 496 wickets across all formats.
The 39-year-old is widely accredited for the innovation of ‘Doosra’ — an off-spinner’s googly.
The Lahore-born worked with Saeed Ajmal to help him remodel his bowling action after he was banned by the International Cricket Council for an illegal action.
Mushtaq last played for Pakistan in 2004 against India in the Test that is remembered for Virender Sehwag’s extraordinary batting. India rode on Sehwag’s 309 to an innings and 52-run victory in the first of the three-Test series.
If the two parties are able to break the deal, Mushtaq would be the second Pakistani to work with the English cricket team in the coach’s capacity. Previously, Pakistan’s former leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed worked with England as spin bowling coach from 2008 till 2014.
