Intikhab adopts new strategy in team's training

Lahore, Dec 17: The newly-appointed coach Intikhab Alam supervised two sessions at the Gaddafi Stadium on Friday after assuming charge of the national cricket camp.

At the conclusion of the training, Intikhab Alam told 'Dawn' that main emphasis is being laid on fielding and fitness of players which will play a decisive role in the tough triangular series in Australia beginning on Jan 9.

"We have already started work-outs in accordance with a plan to achieve fitness of players of a high standard. Tomorrow also the morning session will be held from 10:30 am to 12 noon. After a few limbering-up exercises, the boys will be required to do tough fielding practice through different methods. High and low catches from different angles will be part of the session. Emphasis is being given on eliminating mistakes of running between wickets to avoid".

Talking about his changed strategy of preparing the team, Intikhab Alam said that, like the session held on Friday, he would prefer to conduct match practice daily rather than asking the boys to do net-practice. All the players will play the game in the afternoon sessions from 2:30 pm to 4: 30 pm as if they were playing an international match.

"This can produce amazing results. The boys will develop it as a habit and will be fully prepared to match their skill with strong teams like Australia and India during the series. Through video sessions, a strategy will be evolved to counter good points of the opposing teams and exploit their weaknesses. Much emphasis will be laid on studying the technique of the top six batsmen of the opposing teams. The Pakistani batsmen will be told how to cope with the bowling of world-class bowlers like Glen McGrath and Shane Warne", said the experienced former all-rounder and captain Intikhab Alam.

The coach said that a bouncy pitch has been prepared for the practice matches at the Gaddafi Stadium. Still, he did not look satisfied! "In order to do well at the Australian bouncy pitches, the boys will be made to practice with the tennis-ball having tape wrapped around them. Intikhab said that all weaknesses of the players, noticed during the recent Test series in Australia, would have been removed by the time the team left for the triangular series later this month.