Intikhab appointed coach for Australian tour

Karachi, Dec 16: Former Test captain Intikhab Alam became the fifth Pakistan coach this year - and fourth in six months - when he was appointed for the second half of the Australian tour.

In the second leg, Pakistan will participate in the tri-nation one-day series also involving India and Australia. The series begins on Jan 9.

Intikhab replaces South African Richard Pybus who was sacked immediately after Pakistan's 3-0 defeat in the three-Test series earlier this month.

Before him, Javed Miandad had resigned on the eve of the World Cup which forced the PCB to appoint Mushtaq Mohammad for the England event. Wasim Raja replaced Mushtaq but could last for only two tournaments in Toronto and Sharjah before he quit.

The secretary of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB), Shafqat Rana, said from Lahore on Thursday that Intikhab has been appointed only for the Australian tour.

The board secretary was unaware if Yawar Saeed has been replaced as manager. But reliable sources confirmed that Brig (retd) Pervaiz Nasir has been appointed in place of Yawar.

Shafqat added that after the team's return, the squad's performance and Intikhab's commitments as International Cricket Council (ICC) match referee would be studied before extending the contract.

"Intikhab is also a ICC match referee. If he has no immediate assignments, his contract may be extended until the end of the season," Rana said from Lahore on telephone.

After the Pakistan team returns from Australia, it will host Sri Lanka for three Tests and an equal number of One-day Internationals. Pakistan then fly to the West Indies for three Tests and a three-nation series. Pakistan's next visit will be to Sharjah for another triangular event to be followed the Asia Cup in Dhaka (Bangladesh) and then a return trip to Sri Lanka for three Tests.

The ICC has assigned Intikhab to officiate two one-dayers between England and South Africa in February next year. He is also the match referee for four one-dayers between England and Zimbabwe in Zimbabwe to be played in March.

Intikhab said from Lahore that he was ready to surrender his ICC nomination if the PCB appointed him for at least two years.

"I believe that I can contribute to Pakistan cricket as a coach. And that's I have been doing in the last two decades," he said.

It will be Intikhab's fourth tenure as coach since he made his debut in 1980-81. His last term was in Singapore immediately after the 1996 World Cup. In the last 16 years, he has been incharge of the team for 13 years which makes him the longest serving and most experienced coach.

It is for the second time in almost six years when the cricket administrators have fallen on Intikhab in hope that the former Surrey captain would bail them out of the current crisis. In 1993-94 following a nine-player revolt against Wasim Akram, Intikhab was appointed coach on a successful tour of New Zealand.

"That's true. I have always been appoint in crisis situation so this is not new. In fact, I enjoy it because every time it's a different challenge and I like to meet challenges," he remarked.

Intikhab said he believes that at international level, a coach is not supposed to teach players. "At this level, you just have to prepare strategies and rectify minor mistakes as early as possible."

The former Test all-rounder said his immediate task would be to emphasis on fielding, speed up by the bowling rate, curb the extras and improve running between the wickets.

He added that he would like to see his team play in Australia within its limitations. He said when the players try to perform beyond their limitations, their performance is affected which has a direct impact on the overall performance of the team.

"We have beaten Australia in Australia in the one-dayers (1996-97) and I don't see any reason why we can't do it again.

"But I can show the difference only if I get sufficient time. I can't do it overnight. I believe in continuity and emphasised the same when I met Lt-Gen Tauqir Nasir," he said.

Pakistan captain Wasim Akram was delighted with the appointment of Intikhab but minced no words in saying that he should be made incharge for at least two years.

"I am very happy with Inti's appointment. I have worked with him in the past and we understand each other pretty well,"Akram said from Lahore.

Intikhab will take over the charge of the team on Friday when he supervizes the training camp under progress at the Qadhafi Stadium.