Intikhab Alam slates Pakistan's performance

Karachi, Feb 5: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam blasted his team's performance Down Under saying the squad was no match for the Australians. "We lacked in every department of the game. The Australians were superior in mental and physical fitness, they had better knowledge of the game, and their cricketing sense was far ahead of our players," Intikhab said from Lahore on Saturday after his beleaguered squad returned earlier in the day.

Pakistan, after losing all the three Tests in the first phase of the tour, lost six of the 10 one-day matches in the tri-nation series which Australia won comprehensively.

"There is a gap between the two teams. And the gap is because of all these reasons. Talent wise, we are far ahead but we desperately lack in several things which in the end play the decisive role," Intikhab said.

Intikhab, nevertheless, stressed that if the Pakistan batsmen had posted anything over 225, the bowlers had the guts to curtail the Australians.

"But sadly, all the experienced top order batsmen faltered.

"If the bowlers conceded 337 in the second final, it was because we dropped five catches. The first dropped catch turned things around."

While Intikhab hit out at his team, he also defended them.

"Besides other things, you must consider that Australian conditions are very difficult and there is hardly any team which has dominated over there.

"The other thing which is very significant is that our batsmen are basically front-foot players. That technique can never be successful because of the hard and bouncy pitches."

Intikhab, who took over the charge of the team shortly before its departure for the second leg of the tour, blamed extensive travelling and too much cricket for the lacklustre performance.

He said the team was undertaking long air travelling immediately after the matches and then being made to play the very next day.

When pointed out Saeed Anwar, Ijaz Ahmad and Inzamam-ul-Haq were experienced stalwarts having made tours of Australia before, Intikhab said: "We also expected them to play longer innings but they failed to live upto expectations."

On Ijaz Ahmad, who was out mostly flashing outside the off stumps, Intikhab said: "It was not a professional approach. Having played so much cricket, Ijaz is not expected to throw away his wicket in that fashion."

He said the instructions to the top order batsmen were very clear. He said the batsmen were told to occupy their crease and leave the job of accelerating the scoring rate on the middle and lower order batsmen. "But the instructions were not followed."

Intikhab defended Inzamam-ul-Haq's performance saying that he was not in the best frame of mind. "His wife was sick. Then in his absence his wife gave birth to a baby. These things distract you from the assignment you have in hand. It's quite natural I suppose."

Intikhab added that luck also deserted Pakistan on a few occasions. He cited the example of rain holding up the match when Pakistan needed 60 off 10 overs with six wickets standing. "For the final match, Abdur Razzaq and Inzamam got unfit."

He said Razzaq was nursing a groin injury while Inzamam twisted his ankle on the eve of the match.

Asked if it was time to make changes in the middle-order, Intikhab said if there was a good backup, changes can be made.

"I believe that if there are some very good batsmen waiting for an opportunity, changes should be made in the team. But what's the point of making a change for a change. The batsmen should not be made scapegoat for the team's poor performance in Australia," he stated.

He put his weight behind Wasim Akram saying that he was still the best captain and should be retained as captain. "He enjoys the respect and command in the team." The former captain, however, said the achievement from the tour was the emergence of Shahid Afridi as a dependable bowler. He said Shahid took wickets and put the brakes on the scoring rate.

He stated that Pakistan also showed signs of improvement in the shapeof conceding extra runs and bowling full overs in the stipulated time. "We were fined for a slow over-rate in just one match while very few extras were given.

"As far as fielding was concerned, except for the last match, it was alright though it still needs to improve a lot."

For the series against Sri Lanka, Intikhab said the players will have to lift their performance. He, however, said the players will have the luxury of playing on their grounds which would ease off a lot of pressure.