Mushtaq ends ICL stint to become England's spin bowling coach

Lahore, Oct 29 (UNI) Giving prirority to coaching rather than to playing, former Pakistan leg-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed has ended his contract with the ICL to take up a coaching contract offered by the England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB).

The leg-spinner has returned to Lahore midway through the Indian Cricket League (ICL) season, sources close to Mushtaq said.

''He is back in Lahore and apparently he has ended his ties with the ICL as the ECB indicated to him it wanted his complete commitment and time to his role as bowling coach consultant,'' one source said.

Recently Mushtaq has entered into a coaching contract with the ECB and will be working with their spin bowlers in the Test and one-day sides, besides working at the National Cricket Academy.

However, the ECB has insisted that they would prefer him to sever his ties with the ICL, which is not recognised by the International Cricket Council (ICC) and member boards.

Objections has also been raised by the ICC against Mushtaq's association with the ECB on 'moral grounds' as the leg spinner has been named in a match-fixing inquiry in Pakistan some years ago.

''Mushtaq managed to end his contract amicably with the ICL this season because of the respect his captain and close friend, Inzamam-ul-Haq commands in the ICL,'' sources said.

The 38-year-old was a part of the Lahore Badshahs team.

Mushtaq has taken 185 Test and 166 one-day wickets for Pakistan before he became assistant and bowling coach of the national team under the captaincy of Inzamam.

He later joined the English county Sussex and enjoyed a long stint in county cricket.

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