Former Pakistani spinner and head coach Saqlain Mushtaq has revealed his all-time ODI XI in which he included the likes of Imran Khan, Sachin Tendulkar, Vivan Richards and others.
Saqlain is widely considered one of the greatest spinners of all time. He also invented the revolutionary “doosra” which became one of the most destructive weapons of spinners.
Talking to a local sports channel, Mushtaq put Pakistan’s Saeed Anwar and India’s Sachin Tendulkar as openers, saying they were ahead of their times.
“First, I would put Saeed Anwar, then I’ll send Sachin Tendulkar. They are the players to have scored the most centuries during their time, they have dominated the entire world in one-day cricket. Anwar created history by scoring 194, he played cricket during his time which is played now, they were both 40-50 years ahead of their time,” Mushtaq said.
“On one down, I’ll put Ricky Ponting. He would play a pull shot to the fastest bowler on the front foot. He has scored in almost every big match. On fourth, I thought a lot and told myself that without Sir Vivan Richards, it would be incomplete. He was the King. He too was 40-50 years ahead of his time. Even outside cricket, his aura is still widely acknowledged by the world.”
At fifth, he put Pakistan’s Zaheer Abbas and at sixth, West Indies’ Garfield Sobers. The former Pakistani spinner also included Australia’s Adam Gilchrist in his all-time ODI XI.
“On fifth I would bring our Zaheer Abbas. I think it was Sir Richards who said ‘If you could give me Abbas’ wrist, then I would score so many runs that you can’t even imagine’. He has ended many careers and especially beating spinners was his trait.
“For sixth position, I guess I will pick Sir Garfield Sobers. I remember I was in West Indies, in an event when he arrived, the entire crowd stood up and clapped for him for about five minutes. Adam Gilchrist would be on seventh. I don’t think there would ever be a wicketkeeper batter like him. My captain would be Imran Khan.
“In bowlers, my first pick would be Wasim Akram. You can’t take him out of any team. Doesn’t matter the opposition, the pressure, the conditions, he would always step up. After Wasim, it would be Waqar Younis and at last Muttiah Muralitharan,” he concluded.
Saqlain Mushtaq’s all-time ODI XI
Saeed Anwar, Sachin Tendulkar, Ricky Ponting, Vivan Richards, Zaheer Abbas, Garfield Sobers, Adam Gilchrist (wk), Imran Khan (C), Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis and Muttiah Muralitharan.
- Imran Khan
- Saqlain Mushtaq