Saqlain Mushtaq drops plan to stay in Pakistan

Karachi: Disappointed with the functioning of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) here, Pakistan's celebrated off-spinner, Saqlain Mushtaq has dropped plans to stay and work in the country's cricket set-up.

Saqlain said on the PTV sports channel that he was disappointed at observing the way things functioned in the present cricket system run by the PCB.

The cricketer-turned-coach said he had come to Pakistan last year with a view to settle down in his hometown Lahore with his family and give something back to Pakistan cricket in a coaching capacity.

But after working with Saeed Ajmal for three months for the Pakistan board, the things I observed and saw, I can tell you one can't work properly and freely here and they are problems in the system," Saqlain said.

"I am now preparing to go back to the United Kingdom with my family and resettle down there. I am very disappointed," he added.

One of Pakistan's top spinners, who ended up with 208 Test and 288 one-day wickets and is also credited with inventing the doosra delivery, Saqlain worked with Saeed on behalf of the PCB when the off-spinner was banned from bowling in international cricket by the ICC.

Saqlain, who has worked as spin bowling coach with the New Zealand, West Indies and Bangladesh teams, said he wanted to give back his experience and skills to Pakistan cricket.

I sincerely wanted to do something for Pakistan cricket which made me what I am today. Unfortunately things haven't worked out that way for me," he added.

Pakistan's cricket system and the internal functioning of the PCB has for long been the subject of discussion and criticis  with some former players including former captains, Rashid Latif and Muhammad Yousuf flatly refusing to work in the present set-up.

While Latif turned down the chief selector's post, Yousuf has said he is ready to coach the batsmen but not in present set-up.

Former Test opener and captain Aamir Sohail and Pakistan's cricket great Javed Miandad also parted ways with the PCB after working in different capacities. Both claimed they were not allowed to implement their plans for the betterment of Pakistan cricket as too many hurdles were created for them.