CHENNAI: Former Pakistan off-spinner
Saqlain Mushtaq is set to travel to India as spin consultant of the England team for the five-Test series beginning November 9. Danny Reuben, head of team communications in the ECB, confirmed the development to TOI. "He is not with the England team in Bangladesh. Saqlain is due to be with us for preparation period and for the first Test match.
He will also be there for preparations and for the first ODI in India. The plan is for the first Test and ODI only."
The 39-year-old spinner had worked with England spinners
Moeen Ali and Adil Rashid during Pakistan's tour of England earlier this year.
Ali, who claimed two wickets on day two of the first Test against Bangladesh, had expressed his delight in working with the legendary Pakistan offie in July. He had tweeted: "Loved having Saqlain Mushtaq to work with this week. Great coach and a great guy." Even England head coach Trevor Bayliss, a couple of months ago, had hinted that they may well look into Saqlain again to help his spinners.
"We'll probably look at something else further down the line as well. Both Mo (Ali) and Rash (Adil Rashid), who was here in the lead-up to the Test, both enjoyed working with him. By the sound of it, it was very positive and we'll look to use him again," he was quoted as saying by The Guardian. "It wasn't necessarily a lot technically, it was more tactical. That's where we think both Rash and Mo need to make improvements, to go ahead in the international game," he had said.