Saqlain Mushtaq, one of Pakistan’s most successful spinners, will assist England’s bowlers during their tour to India next month.
The man credited with inventing the ‘doosra’ recently worked with England during their Test series against Pakistan.
That series ended in a 2-2 draw, but Saqlain came under some criticism for siding with a team that was facing his former international side Pakistan.
“I have been entrusted the task of helping the English spinners prepare for the series in India where normally pitches help the spinners,” the 39-year-old said.
“I will also be giving tips to the English batsmen on how to counter the Indian spinners on their home pitches. It should be a challenging assignment.”
There have been political tensions between India and Pakistan recently, but Saqlain does not see any problems with his 15-day visit to India to assist the English team.
“I am not expecting any negative reaction in India to my presence there,” he said.
Saqlain was Pakistan’s premier spin bowler in the late 1990s and was key in scripting one of Pakistan’s greatest Test victories against India at Chennai in 1999.
Despite a splendid century from Sachin Tendulkar in the fourth innings in that Test, India lost by 12 runs in a thrilling finish. At one stage, India were just 17 runs away from victory with four wickets in hand.
That was when Saqlain dismissed Tendulkar, and India lost the last four wickets for just four runs, with the Pakistan off-spinner accounting for three of those scalps. Saqlain ended the match with a ten-wicket haul, with fifers in both innings.
India and England will face off in a five-match Test series, with the first Test scheduled to begin on November 9, 2016 at Rajkot.
