Sports: Cricket: Players should be there for each other if not crowd: Mushtaq Ahmed.

Karachi -- Former Test wrist-spinner Mushtaq Ahmed, who is the spin bowling coach and team mentor for the England tour, is content with the Pakistan men's national cricket team's ongoing preparations and believes that players will need to inspire each other in the absence of spectators to bring out best results.

"This tour is being played in extraordinary circumstances. There are no spectators, there are hardly any journalists either to analyze the teams or the game. Players need to inspire each other, back each other and support each other to the hilt," Mushtaq told pcb.com.pk.

I am happy with the start we have made. We are getting accustomed to the environment and conditions and still have a long time to go before the start of the series.

Pakistan are currently quarantining in a bio-secure environment at the Worcester's New Road Ground, where they have been preparing for the three-match Test series against England, which commences on 5 August.

During the quarantine period, the players are undergoing fitness training, net practice, fielding sessions and intra-squad matches under the supervision of a high-profile coaching staff led by head coach Misbah-ul-Haq.

Bowling coach Waqar Younis and batting coach Younis Khan are working hard on the players in their respective domains while the reins of spin bowling coaching are in the hands Mushtaq.

The 50-year-old Mushtaq has worked around the world with leading international teams and T20 franchises in a coaching/mentor capacity while he was also a part of the team management during the absorbing 2016 series in England, which Pakistan drew 2-2 under Misbah's captaincy.

Mushtaq has rich experience of bowling in English conditions. He toured twice with Pakistan's Test squad in 1992 and 1996 and bowled some match winning spells especially in the three-match 1996 series that Pakistan won 2-0.

In eight Tests in England, Mushtaq collected 32 wickets at 28.81; the 1996 series remained one of the highlights of Mushtaq's 14-year-long international career...