Abdul
ODI Debutant
- Joined
- Jul 1, 2015
- Runs
- 9,212
Following Saqlain Mushtaq’s declaration of interest on Friday in becoming England’s spin-bowling coach, both the ECB and Saqlain declined to comment on his role in the controversial World Cup match between Pakistan and Bangladesh in 1999.
Speaking in Mohali ahead of the third Test between England and India, Saqlain more than once replied “would love to” when asked about extending his existing role as England’s spin-bowling consultant into a full-time role. He joined the squad for the first Test and had his contract extended until the end of the third Test which starts on Saturday.
But the ECB was not prepared to answer The Telegraph’s question about whether it would exercise due diligence in vetting Saqlain’s past as Pakistan's off-spinner - notably the fact that Saqlain was mentioned in the Qayyum Report into match-fixing, which exonerated him from blame, in one specific match, and his bowling in Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh at Northampton.
The odds on a Pakistan win, with legal British bookmakers, were 33-1. Bangladesh had never previously won a one-day international against any Test-playing country except once against Zimbabwe. Yet Bangladesh won by 62 runs against Pakistan, who still qualified for the next stage of the 1999 World Cup, the Super Sixes.
In Bangladesh’s total of 223 for nine off 50 overs, Saqlain took five wickets for 35 runs, and also bowled six wides in his 10 overs. In the rest of the World Cup for Pakistan, who reached the final, Saqlain bowled 10 wides in 73.4 overs. Saqlain had no comment when specifically asked by The Telegraph if he had “any explanation for the fact that he bowled six wides in his 10 overs”.
Although no Bangladesh batsman managed to score more than 42 runs, they reached a total of 223 as Pakistan conceded 40 extras, 28 of them wides. When Pakistan batted, three of their players were run out, including Saqlain, as they were dismissed for 161.
In the Qayyum Report published in 2000, Justice Qayyum summed up the case against Saqlain as follows: “Haroon Rasheed [the former Pakistan head coach] has stated that Saqlain bowled suspiciously against India in the Karachi one-dayer as he gave away 16/17 runs to the tailenders in his last over to lose match.
“Saqlain has explained that he could not grip the ball properly as the umpires had changed the ball and had given him a new ball albeit sanded down to bowl with. This Commission accepts his explanation. There is no evidence to cast doubt on Saqlain.
"In fact, Saqlain should consider it a perverse compliment that he is considered so good that each time he goes for runs in the death overs people think he must be doing it purposely.”
The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit confirmed to The Telegraph in February 2004 that an Indian businessman had submitted detailed allegations to them of match-fixing by Pakistan in two of their matches in the 1999 World Cup, against India and Bangladesh.
However, these allegations were not formally investigated in Pakistan, because Justice Qayyum - to his disappointment - was instructed not to investigate the 1999 World Cup, when Pakistan were defeated by Australia in the final at Lord’s.
“It is of great regret that the commission was prevented from inquiry into the World Cup through a notification dated 18th August, 1999 after having initially been given the green light through a notification on the 16th August, 1999,” Qayyum noted in his report. “Questions about the team’s performance in the final and against Bangladesh still linger and looking into that matter would have only helped clear up the air.”
Saqlain said on Friday that the England team should have a full-time spin-bowling coach. “I think it is very important, it is not just me saying it but I think a few weeks before Swanny [Graeme Swann] mentioned it and a lot of experts mention that. We should have a full-time spin coach, not just for the main team but on the county circuit as well.”
“I'm loving it,” Saqlain added. “The boys are passionate about cricket and they are very hard-working guys especially Moeen, Rash [Adil Rashid] and Zaf [Zafar Ansari]. They are very keen to learn and are hard-working chaps. I'm enjoying every net session and when we sit together in the breaks we talk about cricket and we're loving it.
“Before the series you can't really open the technical side of things, but my philosophy is to build up the relationship and get to know the players. The first couple of days I did that, started to build relationships and it is based on trust, truth, honesty and respect. This is my philosophy on working. To know the players is the most important thing for me.”
Saqlain, if appointed full-time, would be the first spin-bowling coach England have had since Mushtaq Ahmed, who was also mentioned in the Qayyum Report and recommended for a fine. The ICC wrote to the ECB asking it to reconsider but he was still appointed, and coached England from 2008 to 2014.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/...ce-questions-saqlain-mushtaq-spin-coach-role/
Speaking in Mohali ahead of the third Test between England and India, Saqlain more than once replied “would love to” when asked about extending his existing role as England’s spin-bowling consultant into a full-time role. He joined the squad for the first Test and had his contract extended until the end of the third Test which starts on Saturday.
But the ECB was not prepared to answer The Telegraph’s question about whether it would exercise due diligence in vetting Saqlain’s past as Pakistan's off-spinner - notably the fact that Saqlain was mentioned in the Qayyum Report into match-fixing, which exonerated him from blame, in one specific match, and his bowling in Pakistan’s match against Bangladesh at Northampton.
The odds on a Pakistan win, with legal British bookmakers, were 33-1. Bangladesh had never previously won a one-day international against any Test-playing country except once against Zimbabwe. Yet Bangladesh won by 62 runs against Pakistan, who still qualified for the next stage of the 1999 World Cup, the Super Sixes.
In Bangladesh’s total of 223 for nine off 50 overs, Saqlain took five wickets for 35 runs, and also bowled six wides in his 10 overs. In the rest of the World Cup for Pakistan, who reached the final, Saqlain bowled 10 wides in 73.4 overs. Saqlain had no comment when specifically asked by The Telegraph if he had “any explanation for the fact that he bowled six wides in his 10 overs”.
Although no Bangladesh batsman managed to score more than 42 runs, they reached a total of 223 as Pakistan conceded 40 extras, 28 of them wides. When Pakistan batted, three of their players were run out, including Saqlain, as they were dismissed for 161.
In the Qayyum Report published in 2000, Justice Qayyum summed up the case against Saqlain as follows: “Haroon Rasheed [the former Pakistan head coach] has stated that Saqlain bowled suspiciously against India in the Karachi one-dayer as he gave away 16/17 runs to the tailenders in his last over to lose match.
“Saqlain has explained that he could not grip the ball properly as the umpires had changed the ball and had given him a new ball albeit sanded down to bowl with. This Commission accepts his explanation. There is no evidence to cast doubt on Saqlain.
"In fact, Saqlain should consider it a perverse compliment that he is considered so good that each time he goes for runs in the death overs people think he must be doing it purposely.”
The ICC’s Anti-Corruption Unit confirmed to The Telegraph in February 2004 that an Indian businessman had submitted detailed allegations to them of match-fixing by Pakistan in two of their matches in the 1999 World Cup, against India and Bangladesh.
However, these allegations were not formally investigated in Pakistan, because Justice Qayyum - to his disappointment - was instructed not to investigate the 1999 World Cup, when Pakistan were defeated by Australia in the final at Lord’s.
“It is of great regret that the commission was prevented from inquiry into the World Cup through a notification dated 18th August, 1999 after having initially been given the green light through a notification on the 16th August, 1999,” Qayyum noted in his report. “Questions about the team’s performance in the final and against Bangladesh still linger and looking into that matter would have only helped clear up the air.”
Saqlain said on Friday that the England team should have a full-time spin-bowling coach. “I think it is very important, it is not just me saying it but I think a few weeks before Swanny [Graeme Swann] mentioned it and a lot of experts mention that. We should have a full-time spin coach, not just for the main team but on the county circuit as well.”
“I'm loving it,” Saqlain added. “The boys are passionate about cricket and they are very hard-working guys especially Moeen, Rash [Adil Rashid] and Zaf [Zafar Ansari]. They are very keen to learn and are hard-working chaps. I'm enjoying every net session and when we sit together in the breaks we talk about cricket and we're loving it.
“Before the series you can't really open the technical side of things, but my philosophy is to build up the relationship and get to know the players. The first couple of days I did that, started to build relationships and it is based on trust, truth, honesty and respect. This is my philosophy on working. To know the players is the most important thing for me.”
Saqlain, if appointed full-time, would be the first spin-bowling coach England have had since Mushtaq Ahmed, who was also mentioned in the Qayyum Report and recommended for a fine. The ICC wrote to the ECB asking it to reconsider but he was still appointed, and coached England from 2008 to 2014.
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/cricket/...ce-questions-saqlain-mushtaq-spin-coach-role/
