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Brian Lara, Rahul Dravid omitted from Mushtaq Ahmed's all-time XI; Sachin Tendulkar lone Indian

Bengaluru, July 16: Former Pakistani legspinner Mushtaq Ahmed has announced his All-Time Cricketing XI with a few surprise omissions.

No place for Sachin in Sangakkara's XINo place for Sachin in Sangakkara's XI

In a video posted on Lord's Cricket Ground's official Twitter page on Saturday (July 16), the 46-year-old Mushtaq revelead his all-time XI which includes Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar.

Rahul Dravid

Mushtaq, however, did not include other two batting greats Brian Lara and Rahul Dravid. There was also no place for Sir Vivian Richards. (McCullum's XI announced)

Recently, there have been several cricketers who have picked their all-time XIs through the Lord's Twitter account and Mushtaq is the latest one to unveil his.

Four Australians made the cut while three South Africans and one each from India, Pakistan, England and West Indies were selected.

As he picked his XI, Mushtaq, who is currently the spin bowling coach of Pakistan team, said, "(I pick) Alastair Cook as an opener. I choose him because he is a good Test cricketer, has good patience and has got 10,000 runs in his Test career. And I have got Hashim Amla (to partner Cook). He is a brilliant player.

"At number 3 is Ricky Ponting. He is very brave. (He took) took fast bowlers on. He is also a great leader."

Mushtaq, who played 52 Tests and took 185 wickets, installed Tendulkar at his customary number four position.

"Sachin Tendulkar (at number 4). We all know he is the best so far. He has the best record. He is the kind of guy who you have to pick at No. 4. You can rely on him. He can score lots of runs for you," he said.

He continued, "AB de Villiers is a brillant cricketer. He can take the game away from the opposition. That is why I have him at number 5.

"At 6, I have all-rounder Jacques Kallis. He has a brilliant record in Test cricket. He can bowl as the fourth seamer.

"At 7 is Adam Gilchrist. He can damage the opposition straightaway. At 8 is Wasim Akram. He is deceptive, fast, (bowls) yorkers, (can) reverse swing and he is different. And he can also bat. He has a great record in Test cricket."

The line-up was completed with Malcolm Marshall, Shane Warne and Glenn McGrath at numbers 9, 10 and 11.

Explaining his decision to pick the trio, Mushtaq said, "Malcolm Marshall at No. 9. He was a great bowler and he was also smart. He was fast and got different variations.

"One of the best legspinners ever - Shane Warne (at number 10). He is a match-winner. Glenn McGrath (at 11). You can rely on him with both new and old balls. He can take the game away (from the opposition). He is a brilliant fast bowler to have in the side."


Mushtaq's All-Time XI

1. Alastair Cook (England)

2. Hashim Amla (South Africa)

3. Ricky Ponting (Australia)

4. Sachin Tendulkar (India)

5. AB de Villiers (South Africa)

6. Jacques Kallis (South Africa)

7. Adam Gilchrist (Wicketkeeper, Australia)

8. Wasim Akram (Pakistan)

9. Malcolm Marshall (West Indies)

10. Shane Warne (Australia)

11. Glenn McGrath (Australia)

OneIndia News

Story first published: Thursday, August 3, 2017, 7:33 [IST]
Other articles published on Aug 3, 2017