Intikhab calls for fielding camps in Pakistan
The Pakistan coach, believes the board needs to organise specialist fielding training camps across Pakistan in order to improve standards in the national side
Osman Samiuddin in Hobart
18-Jan-2010

Intikhab Alam: 'Whenever a guy comes into the Pakistan side, then only they are taught how to field and the basics of fielding" • Arif Ali/AFP
Intikhab Alam,
the Pakistan coach, believes the Pakistan board needs to
organise specialist fielding training camps across Pakistan in order to
improve standards in the national side.
Pakistan's fielding through tours to New Zealand and Australia has reached
an all-time low and at a conservative estimate they have dropped at least
25 chances through the six Tests. Most of the chances here in Australia have been
critical ones; both Shane Watson and Simon Katich were dropped in the
first session of the series in Melbourne, both scored nineties; Michael
Hussey was dropped thrice at Sydney on the way to a matchwinning hundred;
Ricky Ponting was dropped on zero in Hobart and went on to score a double-hundred.
Intikhab and Mohammad Yousuf, Pakistan's captain, have struggled to stem
the rot, insisting there is no need for a specialist fielding coach but
not offering any tangible solution otherwise. Intikhab has consistently -
and justifiably - called it a grassroots problem, arguing that the lack of
care for fielding at domestic level instills poor habits into players who
make it to the national side.
"They should organise 10-20 days fielding camps for the players in which
catching, throwing, fielding and all things are practiced," Intikhab said.
"We have coaches at every level. Put these camps up in Karachi, Lahore
and Islamabad. Have 15-day camps and just get players from all levels
to practice there every day."
Waqar Younis is currently appointed to the side as a bowling and fielding
coach, but that is, for now, only till the end of this series. There has
been talk of appointing a specialist fielding coach and Pakistan did
benefit a little during the coaching stint of Geoff Lawson, when they had
hired Mohtashim Rasheed as one. But his services haven't since been
retained.
"These camps really need to be organised," Intikhab said. "Whenever a guy
comes into the Pakistan side, then only they are taught how to field and
the basics of fielding, like how to bend for a ball, how to attack a ball.
We have to emphasise this and work on it otherwise it will not get
better."
Osman Samiuddin is Pakistan editor of Cricinfo