Intikhab Alam to resign after second Test

Peshawar, March 7: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam astounded everyone here before the start of the third day's play on Tuesday when he said the ongoing second Test would be his last.

"I will not be the coach in the third cricket Test starting in Karachi from March 12," the 58-year-old former captain told reporters at the Arbab Niaz Stadium.

He said he would be meeting the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Lt. Gen. Tauqir Zia in Karachi on March 11 before submitting his resignation.

"No matter what the general says, my stand is firm and I have decided not to coach the team in the Karachi Test. However, I will resign after expressing my grievances to the PCB chairman in a dignified manner," he said.

Intikhab, appointed coach last year in December, said he was standing down in protest "after being humiliated and insulted by the board when they announced my replacement during the mid-series."

General Tauqir announced on Sunday that Javed Miandad will replace Intikhab after the conclusion of the home series for the tours of Sharjah, West Indies, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka. But Yawar Saeed on Monday issued a clarification saying the PCB chairman had been quoted out of context.

However, Intikhab was not buoyant by the confusing explanation given by the board and said it was issued after he reacted strongly.

"The statement by the board is nothing but a face-saving attempt. They were forced to issue the so-called denial after I threatened to walk out of the team's dressing room.

"I know the decisions were taken and announced. "I would have been in Lahore today (Tuesday) had the PCB chairman not persuaded me on Monday evening to continue. He also promised to hold a one-to-one meeting with me in Karachi on March 11. I know the chairman would give a lot of explanations in that meeting but I assure you that he will not succeed to change my mind," Intikhab said, adding: "I am a very sensitive and different type of a person who doesn't tolerate any cold-shoulder treatment."

Intikhab criticized the board for speaking its mind repeatedly on the issue of coach in the last three weeks and then announcing the decision on Sunday. "Where in the world a coach is sacked during a mid-tour. Pakistan still has three days of cricket in Peshawar left with a Test in Karachi in hand. What happens if we win both the Tests? The decisions of the board has disturbed the entire team but I told the players to concentrate on cricket and leave the controversy behind them."

Intikhab reiterated that he was not keen to continue as coach and added that he knew that he would be replaced. But he emphasised that the way the matter was handled was `disgusting'.

"The board has the authority to appoint anyone. But the changes should be made in a manner in which the atmosphere in not affected. In this particular case, the entire condition has complexed and the element of uncertainty has come."

He felt the board could have avoided this controversy had they shown maturity and professionalism by announcing their decision either after the conclusion of the Test series or at the fag end of the Karachi Test.

Intikhab said he would never accept any offer in the cricket set-up in future after this decision. He said his ego has been deeply hurt and it would take him a lot of time to recover.

"No matter what the offer be, it will not be accepted by me. "I am still undecided whether to return to the fold of International Cricket Council (ICC) as its match referee," he said.

The PCB will have to recommend his name to the ICC after Intikhab, who took 125 wickets in 47 Tests for Pakistan, surrendered the posting in lieu of his appointment as coach in December.

Intikhab continued its outburst against the cricket board when he said he was being made the scapegoat of Pakistan's defeat by Sri Lanka in the three one-dayers and the first Test at Rawalpindi.

"It was the board's decision to induct youngsters and make wholesale changes in the team which lost the finals to Australia. It was the discretion of the board to prepare the wickets for the one-dayers. Then Wasim Akram got injured in Rawalpindi.

"Instead of having the guts to accept the responsibility, they are now trying to put all the blame on coach. The credit of team's victories are attributed to the board and the selectors while the coach is held responsible for its defeat. I think it's unfair."

"I don't think there will be proper cohesion, understanding and team spirit between Javed and the players because of whatever happened a year ago."