today Saqlain Mushtaq made his much anticipated return to the ODI team for Pakistan…however, he failed to impress the crowd as he went for 52 in his 8 overs…including a big six by Hall in his last over…
i was watching a classic yesterday…Pakistan vs. Australia ODI 3 in Carlton United series 96-97…Pakistan were bowled out for 223 in 49.5 overs on a very nice batting wicket…and then saqi came in to bowl and ripped apart their middle order…5 wickets for 29 in 8.5 overs…marvellous…now, my question is, where is that saqi?? or infact the same goes for mushi…they have been bowling brilliantly in the county for last couple of years, but when they are called in the national team, they fail to perform…
here are the match statistics…
Saqlain Mushtaq 8.5 0 29 5
*MA Taylor c Moin Khan b Saqlain Mushtaq 28 80 55 2 0
SR Waugh c Mohammad Wasim b Saqlain Mushtaq 57 108 78 4 1
TM Moody st Moin Khan b Saqlain Mushtaq 8 16 13 1 0
+IA Healy c Mohammad Wasim b Saqlain Mushtaq 4 18 8 0 0
SK Warne c Ijaz Ahmed b Saqlain Mushtaq 11 10 6 0 1
Its astonishing how quicky saqi finished.. he was our superstar bowler. economical and wicket taker. we could count on him everytime. donno wat hapend to him now. mayb its the counties, which burn him out so much that he cant play @ his best for Pakistan.
If its the counties, then thats a decision he's made for himself, and his international career is suffering coz of that.Or its just that everyone has figured him out. Whatever it is, he has lost his sting, and he needs to eithe do a major review of his bowling and stop playing county cricket. Maybe that'll help.
u r right akpower....he did finish pretty soon...i dont know what has happened to him...i remember the time, probably 3-4 years ago, whenever he was hit for a six, he made sure that he got rid of that batman in next 2-3 balls....remember, he was (and i think still is) the bowler to achieve 100 wickets in minimum number of matches...
actually, we can go on and on forever abt saqi...he has given a new meaning to off-spin...off spinner were never admired coz of their lack of variety but this man proved everyone wrong...even harbajan singh and murali admit to have learned from his techniques...
now, the point, i want to come to is whether county cricket is destroying our players???? it has happened to saqi, mushi and azhar (just to name a few)....even azhar performs his feat with bat and ball in county but fails when he is playing for his country....i think, they gotta choose between COUNTY anf COUNTRY....i think they should give more time to domestic cricket than county....sorry imran khan...i just dont agree to ur opinion that domestic cricket destroys a player.....