Saqlain places faith in doosra weapon

Hobart, NOV 16: Saqlain Mushtaq is putting his faith in what he calls God's gift to help Pakistan square their cricket Test series with A...

Hobart, NOV 16: Saqlain Mushtaq is putting his faith in what he calls God’s gift to help Pakistan square their cricket Test series with Australia on Thursday. Saqlain dismissed Sachin Tendulkar twice in Test matches in February with his wrong ‘un and now he has set his sights on Steve Waugh and the Australians.

Most legspinners have a wrong ‘un in their repertoire but until Saqlain hit the international scene in 1995-96, it was unthinkable that an off-spinner could deliver a ball that moved from leg to off to a right-hander.

Saqlain, 22, who flicks his thumb and index finger across the seam while keeping his wrist action almost identical to his stock off break, has revolutionised his art with his doosra. After missing the first Test with injury, Saqlain will be rushed back into the Pakistan side here.

“I call this a god-gifted ball,” he said today. “Sachin faced me three times and I got him three times, two times with that ball and another time with my arm ball. “The Urdu word for it is doosra,first is off spin and second is doosra. It’s the same grip but I just use my finger, the same spinning finger and my thumb.

Sources in the LJP (RV) said the names of the remaining 15 candidates would also be announced very soon.

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