LAHORE: Ex-Test spinner Saqlain Mushtaq, who has been appointed as Head of Player Development at the National High Performance Centre has said that top quality players could be produced if all the game stakeholders were on the same page.

Saqlain, who was selected as one of the Wisden Cricketers of the Year in 2000, stressed the need for everyone to come together to make Pakistan the top team across all three formats of the game.

“We have to make Pakistan the top side in the world,” the former spinner said while talking to a private TV channel. “We will bring our players in the world class category and make them a brand. We can produce top quality players if everyone is on the same page.”’

But the inventor of Doosra said that the side needs time to produce solid results.

Saqlain, who then was the fastest to the milestones of 100, 150, 200 and 250 wickets in One-day Internationals, added that players have to be made mentally strong. “I will work on finding spinners along with grooming the talent.”

Commenting on playing the game with bio-security measures, Saqlain added that it would be difficult for the players to play under such arrangements but they cant just sit idle either.

“[Head coach] Misbah-ul-Haq and his team will be coming up with a plan which will provide his side a good opportunity for training. It will be highly beneficial if they are allowed to train just for a week.” Saqlain added.

Published in Dawn, June 7th, 2020