Mushtaq Mohammad: the Pakistan captain who excelled with bat and ball

In the history of Pakistan cricket, the Mohammad family is remembered as one that gave the country not one but four Test cricketers. Among the four brothers, Mushtaq Mohammad could turn a match with both bat and ball. A daring right-handed batsman and a wrist-spinning leg-spinner, he scored 3,643 runs and took 79 wickets in 57 Tests. He later captained Pakistan in 19 Tests¹. He is counted among the most successful all-rounders of Pakistan’s early years.

Early life and start in cricket

Mushtaq Mohammad was born in Junagadh and spent his childhood in Karachi. His elder brothers Wazir Mohammad and Hanif Mohammad were already playing Test cricket for Pakistan, while his younger brother Sadiq Mohammad later joined the Test side. Another brother, Raees Mohammad, was also associated with cricket, and Hanif Mohammad’s son Shoaib Mohammad also represented Pakistan². In such a family, cricket was less a game than a part of daily life for him.

He played his first Test against the West Indies in Lahore on 26 March 1959, while still a teenager, and scored 14 in the first innings. His first Test century came against India in Delhi in February 1961, when he scored 101. An unbeaten 100 against England at Nottingham in July 1962 confirmed his ability¹.

English county and years of maturity

From 1966 to 1977, Mushtaq Mohammad played for the English county Northamptonshire. Constant practice in county cricket matured his game. He captained the county from 1975 to 1977, and in 1976 Northamptonshire under his leadership won the Gillette Cup, the first major trophy in their history².

His best period in Test cricket came in the early 1970s. After scoring 100 against England at Birmingham in June 1971, he made 121 off 276 balls against Australia in Sydney in January 1973. After that tour, the Dunedin Test in New Zealand, which began on 7 February 1973, became the most memorable match of his career. In it he played an innings of 201, his highest Test score, and also took 5 wickets for 49 runs. A double century and a five-wicket haul in the same Test make a complete all-rounder’s performance. A few weeks later, in March 1973, he also scored 157 against England at Hyderabad (Sindh)¹.

He also took part in Pakistan’s early one-day internationals. His first ODI was against New Zealand in Christchurch on 11 February 1973. His highest ODI score is 55, against the West Indies at Birmingham in June 1975, a match in the first World Cup¹².

Captaincy

In 1976 Mushtaq Mohammad became captain of Pakistan’s Test side and led it in 19 Tests until 1979. The burden of captaincy did not weigh on his batting. In the home series against New Zealand in October 1976, he scored 101 at Hyderabad (Sindh) and 107 at Karachi¹.

His finest performance as captain came against the West Indies at Port of Spain in April 1977. In that Test he scored 121 and also took 5 wickets for just 28 runs in 10.5 overs. This is his best Test bowling. Such a performance on the West Indies’ home ground, against the powerful side of the time, is still remembered. His last Test began against Australia at the W.A.C.A. ground in Perth on 24 March 1979, and his last ODI was against India at Sahiwal on 3 November 1978¹.

Statistics

Source: ESPNcricinfo Statsguru¹. The figures are for his international career.

Influence and legacy

Mushtaq Mohammad’s greatest strength was his versatility. At a time when Pakistan had few resources and limited experience, he gave the side both a dependable middle-order batsman and a wicket-taking spinner in one player. His leg-break, googly and flipper broke many partnerships, while his bat was the team’s support in difficult times². His best match bowling figures were 9 wickets for 119 runs¹.

His long service at Northamptonshire also made his name in English cricket, and he was among the early Pakistani players who turned county experience into strength for the national team. This star of the Mohammad family showed that a player can make his own identity even in the shadow of elder brothers. Even today, when Pakistan’s great all-rounders are discussed, Mushtaq Mohammad’s name is mentioned with respect.