[3] He claimed his maiden recorded five-wicket haul in the format the following season, playing for the Punjab Chief Minister's XI against the touring England cricket team.

[10] He retained his place in the Pakistan side for the subsequent tri-series with India and the West Indies, and made his Test cricket debut in January 1990 against Australia at the Adelaide Oval.

[17] In 1997, he was named as one of the five Wisden Cricketers of the Year, in which he was described as being a member of "a glittering triumvirate of wrist-spinners who adorn the modern game.

Saleem Pervez alleged that he had given Mushtaq, along with Salim Malik, £100,000 to intentionally lose a match against Australia in September 1994.

[20] The judge presiding over the inquiry stated that: "There are sufficient grounds to cast strong doubt on Mushtaq Ahmed.

[22] His form for the county prompted a recall to international duty, but it was short-lived: he played two Tests and one ODI before being dropped for the final time.

[2] He helped Sussex to win the County Championship twice more before persistent knee injuries forced him to retire at the end of the 2008 season.

[25] He was the spin bowling consultant of the Delhi Daredevils for the 2013 IPL season,[26] declining to reprise the role the next year.

[27] In 2014, Mushtaq was named as Pakistan cricket team's bowling consultant under new coach Waqar Younis and his contract ended in May 2016.

[30] In November 2018 Ahmed was appointed as the assistant coach and spin consultant of West Indies national cricket team ahead of the tour of Bangladesh.