Mushtaq scared of becoming Pakistan coach

Former leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has a strong desire to become the coach of his country, but is afraid to take on the responsibility due to the recent behavior and hasty decisions of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB).

The Pakistani, who is currently the spin bowling coach of the Bangladesh team, has made it clear that the PCB’s extreme lack of professionalism, job insecurity, and tendency to make hasty decisions based on emotions are the biggest concerns for him.

Recently, a storm swept over the Pakistan cricket team while playing a three-Test series in England. After a miserable defeat in the first two Tests of the series, the PCB took an unprecedented decision during the tour. Seven cricketers of the squad were sent back to the country midway. Not only that, but the team’s two coaches, Sarfraz Ahmed and Umar Gul, were also dismissed before the end of the series. The board assigned the responsibility of making a makeshift to white-ball coach Mike Hesson in the last Test.

After the PCB’s chaos, Mushtaq Ahmed expressed his anger and fears on the BBC’s ‘Stumped’ podcast. He said, “Of course, it is a pleasure for me to serve the country. It is a big challenge to manage the team, especially in these difficult times. But sometimes it is scary to work for your country, when you see that the board does not get the minimum respect and coaches are removed by making hasty decisions based on emotions.”

Terming the firing of coaches and cricketers during a tour as highly undesirable, Mushtaq said, “It is natural for any coach to feel apprehension and fear when they see someone being fired in such a humiliating manner while on tour.”

The former leg-spinner believes that any decision on the changes should have been made after the tour. “As a former cricketer and a Pakistani, these events have deeply hurt me,” he said. “It is not right to change seven players and the core management during a series in England. I have never seen such an example in the history of Pakistan cricket.”

Speaking on behalf of former captain Sarfaraz Ahmed and pacer Umar Gul, Mushtaq said, “They have served the country for a long time. Sarfaraz was also the captain. If you wanted to drop them, you could have taken that decision at the end of the series. In these difficult times, the board should have kept a cool head and not taken such hasty decisions.”

However, once the chaos and instability in the PCB is over, Mushtaq wants to work for the national team again. He said, “If the situation normalizes and a healthy working environment is created, not only me, but any former cricketer will be eager to become Pakistan’s coach. This is the right time for me to take up the challenge of building a confident and united team that can compete in the international arena.”

Mushtaq Ahmed has been on the coaching staff of the Pakistan team for several times in the past. He first joined as a bowling consultant in 2014 and served until 2016. Later, in 2020, he again worked as the team’s spin bowling coach.

However, for now, the spin guru thinks it is wise to observe the PCB’s messy situation from afar. His message to the PCB is very clear – if the board can provide the coaches with a working environment, stability and respect, then he is happy to answer the call of the homeland and take charge of Pakistan.