kingusama92
29th August 2008, 22:26
I don't know what made me do this but I was just in the mood to write lol... it probably sucks cause i am not a literary genius like others here but i hope you folks get what i'm trying to show.
Mushtaq Ahmed: a Diamond or a Wasted Talent?
By: kingusama92
Today, I decided to look back at the immensely talented Mushtaq Ahmed’s role in Pakistan cricket. I am young admirer of this game called cricket at the age of 16, but I have constantly had this obsession for spin bowling. The art and brain numbing thoughts that go behind it are quite probing and get you thinking even as a fan. Although I didn’t see Mushtaq Ahmed bowl quite a lot since he played mainly before I took an interest towards cricket he still gives me goose bumps just by looking at his bowling highlights.
Mushtaq Ahmed brings many thoughts to my mind regarding him being used properly, which leads me to think was he a diamond or simply another one of our many wasted talents.
Mushtaq Ahmed had quite a distinctive runup, at the top of his runup he looked like a chubby infant licking his lips ready to pounce on that delicious piece of chocolate cake. Although rest assured you ask any of the batsman who played him he was harder to handle then a hungry child wanting cake. Mushtaq Ahmed had the god given innocent face but his spin bowling was a whole other story, the roughly identical runup to Abdul Qadir with both arms raised up as he ripped his fingers over the ball to give it vicious leg spin which almost always ended up deceiving the clueless batsman at the other end was brilliant to watch.
This subtle but immensely talented cricketer became quite popular in the Pakistani ranks as he grew but he just didn’t seem to get those chances that an immense talent like him deserved. You could say that we had other talented spinners in the ranks such as the artistic off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, but did that warrant the PCB selectors dropping him for such a long time? Some would say yes while others would say no.
Mushtaq was known for the utterly unreadable googly he bowled during his entire career, obviously learning the art from his hero Abdul Qadir when he joined the squad. Mushtaq was a diamond for Pakistan cricket but he just simply wasn’t utilised the way he should have been, or maybe he just simply didn’t step it up when he was required to like many of the other Pakistani spinners did. Now you would say that this is a waste of time and that he did do not bad by playing 52 tests and 144 ODIs but for his calibre he should have been bowling as Pakistan’s top spinner for a very long time.
Mushtaq seemed to unfortunately get embroiled in the never ending politics of the Pakistan Cricket board and its selection committee, his talent seemed to be lost in that rush and in that confused time period where Pakistan was filled with star players and just seemed to be overwhelmed. Mushtaq after being completely wasted by the so called intelligent PCB ended up going to Sussex as we all know and he shone like he was meant to on the international circuit. His unplayable googly became the main tormentor on the county circuit; he became a top star after what was supposed to be a trial from the Sussex club who was having its own problems back then.
A few days ago he decided to hang up the boots after his never ending knee problems got the better of him, at the age of 38 he hasn’t done much wrong other then the fact that he just was born in the wrong time period when there were so many stars, that one outshone the other at regular time periods during that era in the 80’s and 90’s. Mushtaq Ahmed had the fluency to adapt to many conditions but the one he has coming towards him called “Retirement Life” will end up throwing many googlies at him, we must now see how he will cope, one thing is for sure all Pakistanis wish him all the best in his life after retirement he has certainly made Pakistan proud.
I would definitely call Mushtaq Ahmed a diamond that Pakistan cricket had, unfortunately most of the selectors didn’t see it.
Mushtaq Ahmed: a Diamond or a Wasted Talent?
By: kingusama92
Today, I decided to look back at the immensely talented Mushtaq Ahmed’s role in Pakistan cricket. I am young admirer of this game called cricket at the age of 16, but I have constantly had this obsession for spin bowling. The art and brain numbing thoughts that go behind it are quite probing and get you thinking even as a fan. Although I didn’t see Mushtaq Ahmed bowl quite a lot since he played mainly before I took an interest towards cricket he still gives me goose bumps just by looking at his bowling highlights.
Mushtaq Ahmed brings many thoughts to my mind regarding him being used properly, which leads me to think was he a diamond or simply another one of our many wasted talents.
Mushtaq Ahmed had quite a distinctive runup, at the top of his runup he looked like a chubby infant licking his lips ready to pounce on that delicious piece of chocolate cake. Although rest assured you ask any of the batsman who played him he was harder to handle then a hungry child wanting cake. Mushtaq Ahmed had the god given innocent face but his spin bowling was a whole other story, the roughly identical runup to Abdul Qadir with both arms raised up as he ripped his fingers over the ball to give it vicious leg spin which almost always ended up deceiving the clueless batsman at the other end was brilliant to watch.
This subtle but immensely talented cricketer became quite popular in the Pakistani ranks as he grew but he just didn’t seem to get those chances that an immense talent like him deserved. You could say that we had other talented spinners in the ranks such as the artistic off spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, but did that warrant the PCB selectors dropping him for such a long time? Some would say yes while others would say no.
Mushtaq was known for the utterly unreadable googly he bowled during his entire career, obviously learning the art from his hero Abdul Qadir when he joined the squad. Mushtaq was a diamond for Pakistan cricket but he just simply wasn’t utilised the way he should have been, or maybe he just simply didn’t step it up when he was required to like many of the other Pakistani spinners did. Now you would say that this is a waste of time and that he did do not bad by playing 52 tests and 144 ODIs but for his calibre he should have been bowling as Pakistan’s top spinner for a very long time.
Mushtaq seemed to unfortunately get embroiled in the never ending politics of the Pakistan Cricket board and its selection committee, his talent seemed to be lost in that rush and in that confused time period where Pakistan was filled with star players and just seemed to be overwhelmed. Mushtaq after being completely wasted by the so called intelligent PCB ended up going to Sussex as we all know and he shone like he was meant to on the international circuit. His unplayable googly became the main tormentor on the county circuit; he became a top star after what was supposed to be a trial from the Sussex club who was having its own problems back then.
A few days ago he decided to hang up the boots after his never ending knee problems got the better of him, at the age of 38 he hasn’t done much wrong other then the fact that he just was born in the wrong time period when there were so many stars, that one outshone the other at regular time periods during that era in the 80’s and 90’s. Mushtaq Ahmed had the fluency to adapt to many conditions but the one he has coming towards him called “Retirement Life” will end up throwing many googlies at him, we must now see how he will cope, one thing is for sure all Pakistanis wish him all the best in his life after retirement he has certainly made Pakistan proud.
I would definitely call Mushtaq Ahmed a diamond that Pakistan cricket had, unfortunately most of the selectors didn’t see it.