Mushtaq turns down Kirsten offer to become DD`s spin coach

Karachi: Mushtaq Ahmed has turned down an offer to re-join the struggling Delhi Daredevils team for the remaining part of the Indian Premier League (IPL) as he is all set to become the spin consultant of the national team.

Mushtaq told PTI today that his agent had got an e-mail from the Delhi Daredevils head coach Gary Kirsten who wanted to know if he (Mushtaq) would be available for the remaining part of the IPL season. Mushtaq had worked with Daredevils during their equally disastrous last season. "Unfortunately, I couldn`t say yes to Gary because I am waiting to know whether the PCB will accept my application for the spin bowling consultant position. Also I really wanted to spend some quality time with my family which I have not been able to do for a while now due to my commitments with the England team," Mushtaq told PTI. The leg-spinner also felt that it would be unfair to expect Gary Kirsten to turnaround things for Delhi in just one season. "He is a good coach but even he will require time to put Delhi back on track. Improvement does not happen overnight," he said. Mushtaq worked on the support staff of the Delhi team last season while also working with the England side as spin consultant. Mushtaq said in his personal opinion the local management needed to sort out some issues before the Delhi side could comeback strongly. "The IPL is a major event and obviously the pressures are great. But with Kevin Pietersen also not scoring big runs obviously Delhi is not having the best of times this season." Mushtaq also made it clear he had himself informed the new England and Wales Cricket Board (ECB) head coach, Peter Moores that he could have to leave the ECB job as spin consultant because of the application he had put in with the PCB. "I am keen to work with the Pakistan team and at the National cricket academy and I informed Moores that for me now serving national interest was primary. In England where I have spent so many years it is customary to inform about any new possible assignment at least two to three weeks in advance," he said. He described Moores as a brilliant coach and outstanding person. "I have played under him at Sussex for four years and I know he is good."