KARACHI, Oct 19: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer gave a big boost to veteran leg spinner Mushtaq Ahmed by endorsing his inclusion in Pakistan team for next month’s Test series against England.

“Mushtaq had an excellent season with Sussex and his inclusion is an excellent idea,” Woolmer told reporters at National Stadium on Wednesday where he was watching the performance of the boys in the four-day match between Pakistan XI and Karachi Region.

“It’s a good opportunity for him to get into the side. It will be a waste of cricket brain if he (Mushtaq) is not included in the team,” he stressed.

Mushtaq took 80 odd wickets for Sussex in the recently concluded English season. But the Multan-born Mushtaq had a poor one-dayer and Test match when included in the team against South Africa two seasons ago.

Mushtaq’s name was included in the list of 25 probables for the conditioning camp conducted at Gaddafi Stadium Lahore from Oct 21 to Nov 2.

He said Pakistan can use the home advantage by having strong 25,000 crowd with vocal support and players should use their local pitches to their advantage.

Woolmer said local team was more accustomed to their conditions and that give them slight advantage but it depend how you exploit them.

Responding to a question, he said squaring the series against India in India and West Indies in Caribbean was now history and we must look ahead for the important series against England.

“Pakistan team’s job in hand is to come down hard on England for which we are preparing well,” he maintained.

Regarding the form and fitness of skipper Inzmamul Haq and Shoaib Akhtar in recently concluded Super Series in Australia, Woolmer said it was just a fun and festival cricket and both will have good time to prepare for series against England.

Commenting on the preparations of the team, he said they were heading in right direction and going well. He said boys missed three days of match at Peshawar because of earthquake.

Commenting on the change of format in the four-day first class fixture and inclusion of two extra players in Imran Tahir in Pakistan XI and Agha Sabir in Karachi team, he said it can be done with mutual consent of the two captains.

He however was unable to give clear cut verdict whether match has lost it first class status or not.

Woolmer admitted that initially English made Duke ball was used in the match but later bowlers used Kookaburra balls.—APP