Saqlain can't wait to bowl with Mushy

8:38am Thursday 1st March 2007

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Sussex fans are in for a treat this season, no matter how the county do in defence of the Championship and C&G Trophy.

At some stage - and the sooner the better as far as their supporters are concerned - they can look forward to the renewal of arguably world cricket's best spin-bowling partnership of the last 15 years.

Mushtaq Ahmed and Saqlain Mushtaq have not bowled in tandem since Pakistan played a Test match in Auckland in March 2001.

But Saqlain's arrival at Hove, initially as cover for his compatriot and, if all goes well, as his long-term replacement, means that unsuspecting county batsman will have to counter the twin threat of a leg spinner who has been domestic cricket's most successful bowler in the last four years and a rejuvenated finger-spinner who invented the 'doosra'.

And if Sussex supporters are savouring the prospect, then so is one half of the deadly duo charged with helping to bring more success to Hove in 2007.

There are so many parallels with Saqlain's arrival and Mushtaq's four years earlier that it would be tempting to predict he can make just as big an impact.

When Mushtaq arrived there were huge question marks over his fitness and whether he still had the old magic. Four years and 365 Championship wickets showed he had.

It's the same for Saqlain. In 2004, he had reconstructive surgery on knees worn out from bowling and his 2005 comeback with Surrey - the county he had helped win nine trophies between 1997-2004 - lasted just two games.

Last season he played in Ireland's C&G Trophy campaign with modest success - his four wickets cost 56.75 - although only twice in eight games was he able to bowl his full allocation of overs because Ireland were defending such flimsy totals.

Cricket is my life Like Mushtaq, rekindling his career clearly means a lot to him. "Before I got injured I used to tell people I will die twice," he said. "The first time when I have to stop cricket and the second time will be my natural death.

"It was depressing not playing regularly for three years - cricket is my life."

The pair have remained good friends since they first played for Pakistan together in 1997.

Saqlain visited Mushtaq last year and even had a net session with the Sussex squad and then when the county played Ireland, Chris Adams confirmed Sussex were keen to sign him.

There must still be some doubt as to how much cricket Saqlain's knees can take during a punishing domestic season which is why his two-year contract, like Mushtaq's was, is weighted heavily in favour of appearances and wickets. But he has worked hard on his fitness this winter and Sussex will try to manage him in the same careful way as they have Mushtaq.

But he will definitely start the season while Mushtaq and Rana Naved - the county's second overseas signing - complete World Cup duties with Pakistan.

By the time they return at the end of April, Saqlain should have received his English passport and will then be EU qualified, opening up the possibility of all three of them playing in the same side.

There is no questioning his pedigree. In 49 Tests, the last of which was in 2004, he has taken 208 wickets at 29.83 while his one-day record is even more impressive with 288 wickets at 21.78 in 169 matches. He was the first bowler to take an ODI hat-trick and was the quickest to 200 wickets. And, like Mushtaq, he is no mug with the bat either and has a Test hundred against New Zealand in 2001 to his name.

And he assures Sussex supporters that the famed doosra' - the ball bowled with an off-break action which spins into the right-hander - has been coming out nicely this winter.

Add in the well-disguised arm ball which has brought him considerable success down the years, including a hat-trick at Hove in 1997, and there is no doubt Saqlain has all the tricks.

Saqlain has no targets in terms of wickets. For him, an achievement would be to play a lot of cricket this season. If he does, the success will surely come.

Mushtaq remains a huge influence and if anyone is going to get the best out of Saqlain, in the same way as he has with Rana Naved, then it's him. How he would love to emulate his great friend and mentor.

"Great bowlers aren't finished when they are 32 so when Mushy got his fitness back it didn't surprise me that he did so well for Sussex," he said.

"He was still a world-class performer, people in the game knew that. When I was injured people kept telling me I was finished but I know I have a lot of good cricket left in me.

"Of course, I'd love to take 100 wickets, every bowler would. But I don't want to put myself under that much pressure. It will take time for me to get back to the standard I want but I am determined to do it.

"Sussex has given me this chance and I'm looking forward to it."

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