It is none other than Saqlain who invented the ‘Doosra’, which became a potent weapon with some of the great off-spinners who came at the International stage later. The likes of Muttiah Muralitharan and Harbhajan Singh took a lot of wickets on the delivery which goes away from the right hander after pitching. Before Saqlain, the cricket analysts all around the world had written-off the right arm finger spinners.
Saqlain came up with a number of match-winning performances for Pakistan in the 1990s and early 2000s. However, the legendary off-spinner was unlucky to have not played more International cricket as he suffered knee injuries.
The former Pakistani cricketer spent some time with the Kiwi cricket team last year as their spin bowling coach, and the former New Zealand captain said that it was an honour working with him, because Saqlain was a cricketer with extra-ordinary abilities and a great man as well.
These comments are even more special, considering the fact that Vettori himself is one of the best left-arm spinners of the modern day game.
“I used to love watching Saqlain bowl. Got to work with him over the last couple of years when he came over and helped the team. Not only from a bowling perspective but batting as well. He is a lovely man who imparted a lot of knowledge to us. Not only the way he played the game and how innovative and successful he was as a spin bowler but him as a person as well,” shared Vettori.
While talking about the next world cup at home, Vettori said that the team did well in the previous mega event, which was held in New Zealand, and hopes that the Black Caps will do well in the tournament which is scheduled to be held in 2015, jointly hosted by Australia and New Zealand.
“The team did really well in the tournament and reached the semi-finals and I would love to be a part of something similar,” he expressed.
Saqlain Mushtaq was a great cricketer, says Daniel Vettori
