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Mushtaq Interview

Saturday, September 13 2003

He has been an unprecedented success for Sussex this season with 99 wickets and is expected to crash through the barrier against Lancs as Sussex wrap up the title before long. The former Somerset and Pakistan legspinner was a popular and colourful character at Somerset and did well on the batsman-friendly wickets of Taunton. His entertaining cameos with the bat too linger in the memory. I caught up with Mushtaq to quiz him about his thoughts on Somerset and this season in general:

JF: You seem to be having a fantastic season at your new county. What do you attribute to your success this season, are the wickets turning more for you and do you think youre bowling at the top of your game?

MA: I would like to think I have the blessing of God, my fitness is very good and I am bowling well with good rhythm. I am working very hard on my cricket and I believe that if you work hard God will give you results.

JF: As a lifelong Somerset fan, your departure from Somerset was not something I agreed with at the time. You took 289 wickets at 26.32 including 22 five wicket hauls in five years service. You were always a popular player with the fans at Taunton, did you wish to stay at Somerset or chose to move on? Do you look back on your time at Somerset with fondness?

MA: I didn't mean to leave Somerset and I had the best time there. I never want to leave where I am and did want to stay. My last season was difficult for me, I was very homesick. I was playing six months for Pakistan, six months for Somerset and I was missing my family. But it was my fault that I left as I did.

JF: You played for Somerset from 1993-1998. Do you notice any changes in county cricket from then to 2003? Has the quality of cricket changed or as a spinner, the pitches?

MA: There aren't too many changes. It's a physical game now not just about your skills. The older players know their limits and work to their optimum, I also think it's very important that you coach yourself. We all have bad games but that's no reason to go and change your technique, this does not help your skills base. Keep to your true game and accept that a bad game does not necessarily make you a bad player.

JF: Somerset are near the bottom of the National League and are playing badly in one day cricket this season. In the recent match you played against them, what were your thoughts of them as a team?

MA: Somerset are still a good side but as with any team you have good years and bad years. They have lost Caddick and Trescothick, had a number of injuries and these don't help your Club. THey work very hard but have struggled with the bat and the ball and they need a good combination to play well which they don't have at present. But I have no doubt that things will improve.

JF: Who are the best batsmen you have bowled against for Sussex in 2003?

MA: I admire Ramprakash and Pietersen.

JF: Both England and Pakistan have chosen teams for this summer with new faces and some younger players. Do you think a very successful year in England will persuade the Pakistan selectors to pick you for the winter?

MA: I believe I should play with dignity in my performance. I don't believe in asking people for favours, if I believe in God it will happen. I will work hard and wait my turn. I never think of the negatives and the positives and I don't blame the selectors. I shall never give up playing with my heart, I do not play with a calculated cleverness aimed towards national selection. I put my faith in God and accept what he gives me.

Posted by John