Harsh Thakor
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Just 12 days ago on November 22nd the cricketing world celebrated the 75th birthday of the legendary Mushtaq Muhammad.I am really sorry not to have posted a commemorative piece on the very day but better late than never.All cricketing fans on Pak passion should bow down to this stalwart.
Mushtaq Muhammad was responsible for knitting a bunch of talented individuals into becoming a cricketing superppower.He galvanized the resources available to perfection taking Pakistani cricket into a new epoch.Above all he led by example.Under Mushtaq Pakistan drew a series in Australia for the 1st time against what was the best team in the world and came within the skin of the teeth of drawing a test rubber in the West Indies who had reached the ascendancy of becoming the test world champions .In a crisis Mushtaq was simply cometh the hour cometh the man.No one could ressurect Pakistan from the grave with such capability as Mushtaq.At Trinidad in 1977 Mushtaq revealed all-round cricketing prowess at its supreme height capturing 8 wickets and scoring 128and 56.It was a performance of the Soberesque class .Arguably there was no better all-round cricketing effort by any skipper in the history of test cricket.In NewZealand his deceptive leg spin played a major role in his team's triumph in 1979.Mushtaq was responsible for inspiring Imran Khan's sensational 12 wicket bowling haul at Sydney and his 25 wickets in the Carribean subsequently.Mushtaq also took Pkaistan to the pinnacle of glory when leading them to their 1st test serise win against arch rivals India.
Before his ascendancy to captaincy Mushtaq had turned in some truly outstanding performances with the bat like his 201 at Dunedin in 1973 and his 121 in Australia in 1972-73.Mushtaq exhibited exemplary courage against ferocious pace standing up to the likes of Bob Willis,Dennis Lillee or Andy Roberts.Ironically he was once the youngest batsmen ever to play a tset match or score a test hundred.
Mushy had the capacity to becoming one of the great all-rounders of all time but sadly hardly bowled enough.For a while in the 1970's he may have made the world test xi as an all-rounder.
Sadly he lost form in World series cricket as a batsmen in contrast to Asif Iqbal.He was controversially dropped on the 1979-80 tour of India which arguably led to Pakistan's demise.Ironically he was never selected for the 1979 Prudential world cup.Perhaps not at his best in the shorter version of the game.
It is debatable whether he was great tactician.In Imran Khan's view he was very mechanical when it came to ball changes on the 1977 Carribean tour.Fortunately he gave back a lot to Pakistan cricket as a selector and coach.
In his all-time world xi Mushtaq chose Hanif ,Gavaskar,Tendulkar,Greg Chappell,Imran Andy Roberts and Dennis Lillee.Good to see his recognition of Indian cricketers.
Whether an all-time great is a moot point but no doubt a strong candidate for the Pakistan cricketer of the 1970's shaping his nation's cricketing destiny as few have ever done.Mushtaq was the ultimate epitome of courage and determination.
Mushtaq Muhammad was responsible for knitting a bunch of talented individuals into becoming a cricketing superppower.He galvanized the resources available to perfection taking Pakistani cricket into a new epoch.Above all he led by example.Under Mushtaq Pakistan drew a series in Australia for the 1st time against what was the best team in the world and came within the skin of the teeth of drawing a test rubber in the West Indies who had reached the ascendancy of becoming the test world champions .In a crisis Mushtaq was simply cometh the hour cometh the man.No one could ressurect Pakistan from the grave with such capability as Mushtaq.At Trinidad in 1977 Mushtaq revealed all-round cricketing prowess at its supreme height capturing 8 wickets and scoring 128and 56.It was a performance of the Soberesque class .Arguably there was no better all-round cricketing effort by any skipper in the history of test cricket.In NewZealand his deceptive leg spin played a major role in his team's triumph in 1979.Mushtaq was responsible for inspiring Imran Khan's sensational 12 wicket bowling haul at Sydney and his 25 wickets in the Carribean subsequently.Mushtaq also took Pkaistan to the pinnacle of glory when leading them to their 1st test serise win against arch rivals India.
Before his ascendancy to captaincy Mushtaq had turned in some truly outstanding performances with the bat like his 201 at Dunedin in 1973 and his 121 in Australia in 1972-73.Mushtaq exhibited exemplary courage against ferocious pace standing up to the likes of Bob Willis,Dennis Lillee or Andy Roberts.Ironically he was once the youngest batsmen ever to play a tset match or score a test hundred.
Mushy had the capacity to becoming one of the great all-rounders of all time but sadly hardly bowled enough.For a while in the 1970's he may have made the world test xi as an all-rounder.
Sadly he lost form in World series cricket as a batsmen in contrast to Asif Iqbal.He was controversially dropped on the 1979-80 tour of India which arguably led to Pakistan's demise.Ironically he was never selected for the 1979 Prudential world cup.Perhaps not at his best in the shorter version of the game.
It is debatable whether he was great tactician.In Imran Khan's view he was very mechanical when it came to ball changes on the 1977 Carribean tour.Fortunately he gave back a lot to Pakistan cricket as a selector and coach.
In his all-time world xi Mushtaq chose Hanif ,Gavaskar,Tendulkar,Greg Chappell,Imran Andy Roberts and Dennis Lillee.Good to see his recognition of Indian cricketers.
Whether an all-time great is a moot point but no doubt a strong candidate for the Pakistan cricketer of the 1970's shaping his nation's cricketing destiny as few have ever done.Mushtaq was the ultimate epitome of courage and determination.
