Why Indian cricket is 'ahead of Pak, at the top now...'

‘Their domestic and international players are well-paid and they have built a strong pool of players,’ says Mushtaq Muhammad, one of Pakistan's most successful captains.

Pakistan cricket legend Mushtaq Muhammad has attributed India's sound structure for the country's ascendancy in the game. The 76-year-old, who is based in Birmingham, was impressed by India's success and growth as a cricket nation.

"They are ahead of Pakistan and some other nations now because they have developed a sound cricket system by not making too many changes to their structure. Their domestic and international players are well-paid and they have built a strong pool of players," opined Mushtaq, one of Pakistan's most successful captains, on a visit to Karachi.

Mushtaq is credited with infusing self-belief in the Pakistan team and introducing a culture of positivity and winning mentality among the players when he became captain in 1976.

Belonging to the famous Muhammad brothers cricketing family, Mushtaq led Pakistan to a home series victory over India and New Zealand besides twice winning Tests in Australia, the West Indies, and beating New Zealand in New Zealand.

He was ousted and dropped as captain and player in a mini-revolt by some senior players before the famous 1978/79 tour to India, where Pakistan lost the Test series.

Mushtaq, who later went on to become head coach of the Pakistan team and led them to their first-ever tri-series One-day triumph in Australia and also to the final of the 1999 World Cup, said the Indian board has also done well in not allowing its players to play in any T20 leagues around the world, except the IPL.

"That has helped them a lot. They pay and look after their players so well that their players don't mind this restriction and can focus on India.

"Indian cricket is at the top now because… look at the number of matches they are playing at home and they are also getting better on overseas tours. In comparison, Pakistan hardly plays regular Test series."

He also was effusive in praise of Indian captain Virat Kohli and batsman Rohit Sharma, calling them world-class performers.

"Kohli is lucky to have such a pool of players to pick from, but he is still a good tactical captain. Technique-wise also, when I look at the Indian players they are moving ahead day by day."

Mushtaq said Pakistan's top batsman Babar Azam is also a world-class product, but is not getting the same opportunities to showcase his talent like Kohli or other Indian players.

"Kohli might be a better player and more experienced, but Babar is a top batsman and in the same league, but he doesn't get too many Tests in a year."

A competent all-rounder who played 57 Tests and 502 first class matches after making his Test debut against the West Indies in 1959 at the age of just 15, Mushtaq rued the fact that India and Pakistan are not playing regularly against each other either at senior or lower levels.

"It is very sad for someone like me because I played a lot against and with Indian players and I learnt from them and they from me. It is unfortunate that politics has crept in and India doesn't want to play bilateral matches with us. It is hurting world cricket," he added.