Quinton de Kock, South Africa’s limited-overs captain, is the best wicketkeeper-batsman in today’s cricket, feels Moin Khan.
The former Pakistan ’keeper-batsman and captain emphasised that batting is as important for a wicketkeeper in modern-day cricket, particularly if the player has to keep his place in the side.
According to Moin, De Kock fits both categories and stands above the rest even in terms of pure wicketkeeping skills, although a lot of other experts term Wriddhiman Saha as the best wicketkeeper in the world now.
“Yes, I have seen Saha. No doubt, he is a very good wicketkeeper. But you can’t compare him with someone like Quinton de Kock who, in my opinion, is the best wicketkeeper-batsman these days.
“It’s no more about being just a conventional ’keeper in Test cricket because you have to be a good batsman as well. Otherwise, you can’t find your place in the team. But looking at how De Kock performs behind the stumps and how he bats, he’s simply the best today,” Moin told The Telegraph from Karachi on Monday.
Moin certainly has praise for Saha’s excellent glovework but feels the 35-year-old needs to work on his fitness and performance in order to extend his international career.
“To speak of Saha, he has got a wonderful collection with very soft hands. That looks really beautiful, and he is also a hardworking guy. But I won’t say he is the best right now.
“He can be, of course, since he has the potential. But to prolong his career, he has to work on his fitness and performance. Simple.”
The need for a ’keeper who can double up as a batsman, Moin feels, is not a modern phenomenon as it started gaining prominence from around mid and late 80s.
“The actual requirement arose in around 1985-86. When I was growing up, I used to see Saleem Yousuf, who was a wonderful wicketkeeper-batsman for Pakistan. He was a very effective and a utility cricketer.
“That was the time when I used to think that if I have to beat him, I’ll have to do well in both wicketkeeping and batting. So I always egged myself on to work hard when it came to batting too.
“So I think that was the time when most of the teams started having wicketkeepers who were good with the bat too. A good ’keeper-batsman gives you additional benefit when you compose your XI,” Moin, who has played 69 Tests and 219 ODIs for Pakistan, explained.
Among the modern-generation batsmen, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Jos Buttler are the ones Moin admires. “…The one I liked the most was Adam Gilchrist, because he was just too, too good,” Moin said.
Talking about Dhoni, Moin said that given his stature, the former India skipper should be allowed to take a call on his future. “Nobody can push Dhoni, nobody can suggest anything to him or even make opinion about him.
“He is a better judge for himself, so whatever he needs to do, he should decide it himself. He is a legend worldwide and whatever he has done, that have been wonders for Indian cricket as well as a lesson for youngsters who look to fill in his shoes.”
Moin now runs his academy in Karachi, which goes by the name DHA Sports Club Moin Khan Academy. Alongside cricket, the academy provides facilities for aspirants interested in disciplines like football, squash and swimming.
