Mushtaq retained as bowling consultant

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has again accepted a request by Inzamam-ul-Haq to appoint Mushtaq Ahmed, the veteran legspinner, as the bowling consultant of the senior team for the home series against India.

A senior Board official confirmed that Mushtaq would continue in the role on the request of the team management. "We didn't have time to call an ad-hoc committee meeting to discuss future appointments due to the Eid holidays and other problems. But because the team management made a request we decided to retain Mushtaq as consultant after speaking to the committee members."

Mushtaq, 35, was originally recalled to the Test squad for the series against England in November but didn't play in any of the matches. He was dropped for the one-day series against England but retained as a bowling consultant by the Board. But he was released after the series.

Mushtaq was seen working with the players at the nets and was confident he would be getting the nod once again. It is no secret that Inzamam and coach Bob Woolmer are both comfortable with him working with the other players and remaining attached with the team. "Mushtaq is a very experienced cricketer and knows all these players well," Inzamam said. "He is a good communicator and they can discuss things with him without any problems. He is a big help which is why we wanted him as a bowling consultant."

Mushtaq, who has a contract with English county Sussex for this year, has taken 185 wickets in 52 Tests and 161 in 144 one-dayers. The official said this contract was a big hindrance in the Board appointing him as an assistant coach on a long-term basis. The official also said that a decision on the assistant coach would be taken after the Indian series now.

In a statement to the press, the PCB revealed that it has also called upon three other former Pakistani bowlers to assist the current crop. "Shahryar Khan [PCB Chairman] has invited Pakistan legends Imran Khan, Wasim Akram and Waqar Younis to help out the national team with their bowling whenever they are available to do so," a PCB official said.