MS Dhoni was not treated well by BCCI, should have got farewell match: Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq

Ever since former India skipper MS Dhoni retired on August 15, there have been many former players including VVS Laxman and Irfan Pathan, who have reiterated that the Indian legend should be given a farewell match.

A few players from across the border in Pakistan have also spoken on the issue, with Shoaib Akhtar and Kamran Akmal saying that a player of MS Dhoni’s calibre deserves to be given a farewell match.

Another prominent Pakistan bowler to join the list includes the former off-spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

Saqlain Mushtaq, who troubled batsman across the world with his ‘doosra’, also hit out at the BCCI for its treatment of the Indian legend.

Speaking on his YouTube channel, Saqlain Mushtaq said, “I always say positive things and try not to spread negativity in any way but I think I should say this. This is kind of a defeat of BCCI. They did not treat a big player like him [MS Dhoni] in the right way. The retirement shouldn’t have happened like this. This is coming straight from my heart and I believe millions of his fans feel the same way. I’m really sorry to BCCI that I’m saying this but they didn’t treat Dhoni well, I’m hurt.”

The Pakistan star, despite the nation’s bitter rivalry with India, expressed that he would like to see MS Dhoni in the India kit ‘one last time’.

‘Dhoni’s fans want to see him one last time as well’

“May God bless him in his future endeavours and whatever decisions he makes, but there is one regret that I have. I think Dhoni’s every fan will have the same regret. It would’ve been great to see him retire after playing in the India kit for one last time,” Saqlain added.

He added that the prospect of seeing MS Dhoni in IPL 2020 is still there, but further added that international retirement is a different matter altogether.

“Glad that he will play in IPL. But his international retirement should have been different. Every cricketer has some dreams, I had that too but because of my injury that didn’t materialize but I believe every cricketer wants to exit the game on a high as he had entered it. I’m sure Dhoni must have had this dream,” Saqlain insisted.

India’s MS Dhoni had called an end to his 16-year long international career on August 15. He took to Instagram to post a four-minute-long video, and wrote a message with it that read, “Thanks a lot for ur love and support throughout. from 1929 hrs consider me as Retired (sic).”

Saqlain Mushtaq praised Dhoni for the successful career that he had, and also said that he was a ‘real hero’. “MS Dhoni you are a gem of a person and real hero, proud of you.”