Dubai: The Pakistan team has embarked on a new plan of recalling their glorious past to gain inspiration and confidence.
And Mushtaq Ahmad, their spin bowling consultant, revealed that remembering knocks like that of Inzamam-ul-Haq’s vital 60 in the semi-final of the 1992 World Cup against New Zealand could lift their spirits following a poor start to their series against Australia in the UAE.
Mushtaq, who was one of the world’s finest leg-spinners, strongly feels that individual brilliance like that of Inzamam can transform the team into a winning unit.
“We need to be optimistic. Remember Inzamam’s individual brilliance in the ‘92 World Cup semi-final that changed everything for us,” he said.
“We have been poor so far [ahead of Friday’s second ODI], that’s the truth. But the good thing is that the players, especially the batsmen, realise that they have let the team down.”
All-rounder Shahid Afridi also revealed he looks to his past knocks for inspiration.
October 4 was the 18th anniversary of Afridi’s record-breaking century in just 37 balls against Sri Lanka at Nairobi. When he was reminded of the day, he said: “When I am not performing well I still search for that knock on YouTube. I back myself by watching it.”
Mushtaq, who once took 100 wickets in an English county season, was snapped up by the England Cricket Board as their spin bowling coach in 2008.
But this year the Pakistan Cricket Board contracted Mushtaq to be their bowling consultant until May 2016 to work alongside head coach Waqar Younis. This is his second stint as a bowling consultant for Pakistan, having also played this role during home series against England and India between 2005 and 2006.
“We all work within our respective domains. Waqar is the head coach and, if I come up with an idea or game plan, I discuss it with him first,” Mushtaq said.
Mushtaq also appealed to Pakistan’s fans to be patient when the team does not perform. “My request to fans back home in Pakistan is that they should keep believing in the team and shouldn’t give up on them. We are trying our hardest and need their prayers.”
Mushtaq is not worried about the future of Pakistan’s spin attack, revealing they have seven good young spinners waiting in the wings. “If even a couple of these boys deliver, Pakistan will be served well in the next decade,” he said.
