'Won't take any credit for Gazi'

Saqlain Mushtaq

Former Pakistani off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who joined the Bangladesh team as their spin bowling coach in August this year has gotten much of the credit for the spinners' excellent performance against the West Indies. The former Pakistan off-spinner, who will be leaving the country tomorrow after the end of his four-month contract, talked to The Daily Star Sport's Naimul Karim yesterday, regarding his short stint in Bangladesh.
Daily Star Sport (DSS): How much credit do you take for Shohag Gazi's performance?
Saqlain Mushtaq (SM): I won't take any credit. Yes, I was in the middle trying to observe the game plan and help him mentally. But the credit goes to him. He showed some guts. We must look after him. He is in the cricketing world now. Different brains will plan against him, they will come up with new strategies to work against him. So this is the time for us to look after him.
DSS: Akram Khan had earlier said that the selection committee had taken your advice on Gazi. What made you rate him ahead of the others?
SM: Before Eid, we had a coaching camp and Gazi was in that. On the third day we had a session called 'free expression'. And in that session I asked the spinners, to show me whatever they could do with the ball. The boys tried bowling the doosra, carom ball, drifter, off-spin, arm ball, etc. And Gazi that day was bowling beautifully. He was drifting and spinning the ball as well. He tried to bowl the doosra with good control and landed the ball in the right areas. After a few drills, Gazi was dominating everyone in the nets. He was quite passionate too and almost never got tired. As a spinner you have to be able to bowl as much as possible. Those five days I think he bowled for around two and a half hours to three hours every day.
DSS: How did you advise your spinners to bowl against the likes of Gayle and co?
SM: To be honest I didn't say anything to the spinners. If you do, it means that there is something [to be worried about]. Not even once did I mention about Gayle to Gazi, Sunny or anyone. I just told them to trust their skills, believe in their plan and stick to it.
DSS: What did you think about Shakib Al Hasan's performance in the series?
SM: Shakib is young, he is 25. He has had a lot of load on him. He is the best man in our team. Somebody has to share that load with him. He bowled beautifully in the first Test. But he played throughout with a niggle. During the T20 world cup when I arrived, he was complaining about his shin and ankle, so all that might have affected his bowling. He is very passionate, he was ignoring the injury and giving hundred percent to the country. But he is an intelligent player and he knows his game.
DSS: You have been with the bowlers for a while now, what is your general opinion?
SM: They are good players, they have lots of potential. They showed that not just in the one day series but in the Test matches as well. There was one bad session in the first Test at the end of the day. We also played well in the second Test match. There were obviously a few rough patches where we did not perform the way we should have. But personally I saw improvements in all areas.
DSS: And what do you think were the reasons behind those rough patches?
SM: I think it was because of the lack of cricket. They don't play enough cricket, especially Test cricket and even the domestic structure is not that strong. The BCB (Bangladesh Cricket Board) should do something for the domestic structure.
DSS: Do you think the turning tracks in Bangladesh devalued the series win in any way?
SM: Look, you need support for your own strengths. I remember when we played against England in Pakistan, Darren Gough told the boys that when you come to England, we'll put grass in your kitbags and even in your rooms, because he couldn't find any grass on the pitch. It shows that everybody needs some support. As a professional cricketer though, you have to be able to bowl on every pitch and do well on any ground.
DSS: What is the main difference between the set-up here and your experiences elsewhere?
SM: It's a huge difference, huge. Here obviously you guys are going towards the right way, but outside they are already in the right way. They have more facilities, they are more disciplined. They have a proper system, more organised. BCB is organised as well, but they {other countries] are more. Cricket is an industry and they are running their industries better than us.
DSS: Will you be continuing your stint here?
SM: It depends on the BCB at the moment. I want a clear plan as to how they want to use me. So yeah, if things work out I would love to continue.