Pakistani Cricket Players: Saqlain Mushtaq

Saqlain Mushtaq Biography

Source(google.com.pk)

Saqlain Mushtaq (born 29 December 1976) is a Pakistani cricketer.[1] He is best known for pioneering the "doosra", which he employed to great effect during his career. Saqlain has not been active in international cricket since 2004. A right-arm off break bowler, Saqlain played 49 Test matches and 169 One Day Internationals (ODIs) for Pakistan, between 1995 and 2004. He took 208 and 288wickets in Tests and ODIs respectively.[2] He also scored Test Match century, against New Zealand, in March 2001.[3] Former Pakistan captain Wasim Akram described him as "aggressive as a fast bowler, not afraid of getting hit, and has this total belief in himself".[4]Saqlain was born on 29 December 1976, in Lahore. His father was a government clerk. He has two elder brothers, Sibtain, who also played first-class cricket for Lahore, and Zulqurnain. Saqlain played for Mohammedan Anglo-Oriental (MAO) college for three years and college won the Championship each year.[2][4]Saqlain represented Surrey for eight successive seasons, from 1997 to 2004. However, his time there was interrupted and his international career with Pakistan effectively ended in 2004.[5]

In August 2005, he played his first match after recovering from injury against Bangladesh A, and took 4–87 from 35 overs bowled over two innings.[6] However that same week, in his return to the County Championship, he conceded 110 off 28 overs against Gloucestershire, taking just one wicket.[7]

In February 2006, he signed for Ireland for the C&G Trophy, along with team mate Abdul Razzaq.[5][8]

Later in February 2007, Sussex announced that Saqlain had signed a two-year contract with them. His initial requirement was to cover for fellow Pakistanis, Mushtaq Ahmed and Rana Naved-ul-Hasan who were part of Pakistan's World Cup campaign.[9] On 26 September 2007, Saqlain was released by the county on his request. On 8 October 2007 Saqlain was re-signed by Surrey.[10] On 28 October, according to Cricinfo, he was released by Surrey.

In April 2009 he joined Old Whigiftians CC[11] to play in the Surrey Championship. He took 64 wickets in his first season, including five 5 wicket hauls to earn Whits promotion to the first division. He was also involved in the youth game setup. In 2010, after relocating to Leicestershire, he joined Syston Town Cricket Club, playing in the Everards County League.[12]

In late 2010, he was training in Taunton at the facilities of Somerset County Cricket Club, whom he has now joined as a temporary spin-bowling coach for the 2011 Caribbean Twenty20 competition.[13]

On 11th April 2013 it was annonced that Saqlain will be joining Birmingham League Division Three Side Evesham for the 2013 Season. [14]