Intikhab Alam

Intikhab Alam - although it was always "the burly Intikhab" or "the wily Intikhab" - was one of the players who helped Pakistan bridge the gap from the rather sterile, insulated, bore-draw 1960s into a '70s power which could beat every country home and away. They did it by acquiring experience in county cricket when those doors opened in 1969, Intikhab turning out for Surrey as a fine allrounder. If his legspin wasn't quite in the Abdul Qadir class, it was still the foundation of Pakistan's unbeaten tour of England in 1974, and his powerful hitting produced a Test hundred. He was a significant captain but was widely thought to be too diplomatic for the role; his replacement Mushtaq Mohammad was a vivid, proactive contrast. Post-retirement Intikhab's involvement with Pakistan cricket continued. He was the manager-coach when they won the 1992 World Cup, his diplomacy, it is thought, vital in ensuring a smooth working relationship between Imran Khan and Javed Miandad. He became coach in 2000 briefly before Pakistan surprisingly returned to him in October 2008 for another stint as replacement for Geoff Lawson.
Scyld Berry November 2008