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Pakistan cricket legend Mushtaq Ahmed keeps himself open if the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) comes with an offer to appoint him as the national team coach. But the former cricketer hesitated to say that the recent controversy surrounding the Pakistan National Cricket Team will force him to think twice before joining the team.
Mushtaq Ahmed is currently associated with the Bangladesh National Cricket Team as spin bowling coach and is well aware of the recent incidents related to his nation's cricket team. After two brutal defeats against the England National Cricket Team, PCB sacked seven key players, head coach Sarfaraz Ahmed, and his assistant Umar Gul as well from the Test team.
I would love to do that for my country: Mushtaq Ahmed opens to coaching Pakistan
During a BBC Stumped Podcast, Mushtaq Ahmed was asked if he would like to consider a Pakistan cricket team coaching job in the future. In response, the former leg-spinner mentioned that it would be his privilege to coach his national side, especially when the team needs someone who could turn things around for the Men in Blue. But the impulsive decisions of the cricket board barred him from saying a direct 'yes'.
“I would love to do that for my country, of course. Especially at this time. Obviously, I need only one thing. Sometimes you get scared of working for your own country when the people don’t respect you, and they sack you because of a few emotional decisions here and there… When you see those things, people getting sacked on a tour, you get worried and scared,” Mushtaq Ahmed.
Mushtaq Ahmed explains why former Pakistan cricketers should be appointed as the coach
Ahmed also mentioned that it is high time for former Pakistan cricketers, who are coaching at present, to get involved with the team, because of the demand of the situation. The legendary spinner mentioned in the podcast that if the team could play as a unit, then they could make a strong comeback in international cricket.
“I think those are the things that, if you can get that sorted, I think every Pakistani cricketer who is coaching, not only myself, they’d love to serve the country. This is the best time for me to take that challenge and bring those players to their best, make them confident about international cricket,t and make a unit that can actually challenge opposition teams,” said Mushtaq.
Mushtaq Ahmed advises PCB to avoid mass snubbing
Further in the podcast, Ahmed stated that snubbing seven cricketers, alongside the coach and his assistant at once, had never happened in Pakistan cricket before. The 56-year-old suggested that it is better to avoid taking this kind of decision in the coming days.
"This has never happened in Pakistan cricket before. Obviously I’m hurt as an ex-cricketer, as a Pakistani; these things should not happen. Sarfaraz and Umar Gul, they are some of the most experienced cricketers. They serve the country very well. Sarfaraz was a captain also. If you want to sack them, obviously you have to sack them after the tour," he added.
