"Amir is mentally prepared for this tour and he will be able to handle himself well" : Intikhab Alam

[MenInG]

"Amir is mentally prepared for this tour and he will be able to handle himself well" : Intikhab Alam

Far away from the uproar caused by the tumultuous results of the recently held referendum to decide the fate of the United Kingdom's participation in the European Union, a group of seventeen men and their management are busy preparing for what promises to be one of the toughest series of Test cricket they have played in many years.

In an unusually bold move, the Pakistan squad led by the evergreen Misbah-ul-Haq arrived in England a few weeks ahead of their warm-up games to ensure that this squad of talented individuals get ample time to practice and acclimatize to English conditions. Based in Hampshire until the 29th of June, the Pakistan team, under the tutelage of their newly appointed Head Coach Mickey Arthur, has proceeded to train and practice with great enthusiasm and judging by the exclusive interview to PakPassion.net by their manager, Intikhab Alam, they seem ready for the challenge ahead.

A few critics of newly appointed Chief Selector Inzamam-ul-Haq’s proposal to send the Test team a few weeks ahead of the start of the tour had commented on the futility of such a move as it could have resulted in burn-out for the players, but Intikhab Alam is no doubt about the efficacy of this move and feels that the stay in Hampshire is already paying dividends.

"Our preparations are coming along really well since our arrival here in Hampshire. We played a three-day practice match and although one of the days was rained off, it had no bearing on the spirit of the team who are gelling very well and busying themselves with gym work whenever they get a chance. At this point there are no fitness or injury issues to worry about so we are very satisfied with the current outcomes of this camp."

Mohammad Amir’s expected return to Test cricket at a ground where he last played in 2010 is a topic that seems to have generated a lot of media and fan interest. Understandably the Pakistan team management is well aware of the hype surrounding the occasion but as Intikhab explained, the only real concern in Pakistan minds is Amir’s cricket related preparations for the game at Lord’s which starts on 14th July stating that "Although it is a little early to talk about it as there is some time to go and we have two warm-up games to play, we feel Mohammad Amir is all set to play the first Test match at Lord's. We all know about the circumstances surrounding his return but he is mentally prepared for this tour and he will be able to handle himself well; this isn’t the first time he is touring a foreign country after returning to international cricket and he also has been to England before.”

The news of James Anderson’s possible unavailability for the first Test match due to an injury may have come as a welcome relief for some Pakistan batsmen but the fact remains that it is the Pakistan bowlers who will be expected to do most of the heavy lifting if the tourists are to achieve a positive outcome from this series. The Pakistan fast-bowling attack apart from Mohammad Amir and Wahab Riaz is inexperienced but as Intikhab explained, it could well provide a few shocks to the opposition.

"There is no doubt that our pace attack lacks the kind of experience that has been the hallmark of previous visiting Pakistan sides but I would caution against under-estimating their capabilities. They have all been bowling well in recent times and are physically fit and will provide a stern test for the England batsmen.”

Mickey Arthur’s stellar record as South Africa’s coach has raised expectation about what he can achieve as Head Coach of Pakistan team. He was recently appointed at this post and as the Pakistan Team Manager remarked, is already having a positive effect on his new charges.

"We are very fortunate to have someone of the stature of Mickey Arthur as Head Coach for Pakistan and I am pleased to say that he has really gelled well with the boys. He is working very hard with the team and the players are responding nicely and enthusiastically to his advice and comments.”

To many experts this Pakistan team appears to have the work-ethic and determination to come away with laurels from this series but the real test of their resolve will come when they walk on to the ground at Lord’s and as Intikhab Alam puts it “We will prepare well and put in the effort needed and God Willing, when the time comes, make the nation proud of this team”, he concluded.

 

[MenInG]

Finally some support for Amir! Good to hear some positive vibes from Pak camp but real test coming up soon starting with the warm-ups

 

[Hadi Rizvi]

Best of Luck to Pak team and I'd love to see a 5-fer by Amir.

 

[Shayan]

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan team manager Intikhab Alam feels pacer Mohammad Amir is all set to play the first Test match against England at Lords on July 14, saying he is fully prepared for the tour.

Amir’s expected return to Test cricket at a ground where he last played in 2010 is a topic that seems to have generated a lot of hype.

Understandably the Pakistan team management is well aware of the hype surrounding the occasion, Intikhab said.

The only concern in Pakistan minds is Amir’s cricket related preparations for the game at Lords. Amir is all set to play the first Test match at Lords.

“We all know about the circumstances surrounding his return but he is mentally prepared for this tour and he will be able to handle himself well,” he told Pakpassion.net.

He said this is not the first time Amir is touring a foreign country after returning to international cricket and he also has been to England before.

The Pakistan fast bowling attack apart from Amir and Wahab Riaz is inexperienced but Intikhab said it could provide a few shocks to the opposition.

There is no doubt that our pace attack lacks the kind of experience that has been the hallmark of previous visiting Pakistan sides but I would caution against under estimating their capabilities.

They have all been bowling well in recent times and are physically fit and will provide a sterntest for the England batsmen, he said.

Speaking about the new head coach he said we are very fortunate to have someone of the stature of Mickey Arthur as Head Coach for Pakistan.

He is working very hard with the team and the players are responding nicely and enthusiastically to his advice and comments.

We will prepare well and put in the effort needed and God willing when the time comes make the nation proud of this team, he said.


http://www.thenews.com.pk/latest/131026-Mohammad-Amir-first-Test-Lords-England-Intikhab-Alam

 

[Saj]

Pakistan cannot win with just Amir performing out of the bowlers.

High time Wahab, Rahat and Imran Khan back him up and also perform.

 

[Abdullah]

Yaar- this is getting too much- I can't wait at all!!

Also- I am at the stage where I am feeling there is still time for thigs to go wrong pre 1st test, so just want the games to begin!!
[MENTION=93712]MenInG[/MENTION] bhai did you manage to ask about how much work they are doing for slip catching, and also what hafeez plans are for bowling?

 

[Abdullah]

Ultimately I feel we need to minimise the gap in slip catching and runs from the tail. If we can match england we will win,

This is where Wahab could be key as he needs to be able to just blow away 9 10 and 11, and score some runs.

 

[UN talkz]

SAJ SADIQ SPEAKS TO FORMER PAKISTAN TEST CAPTAIN INTIKHAB ALAM.

Regarded as one of the most well-respected Pakistan Test captains over the years, Intikhab Alam played 47 Tests and 4 ODIs between 1959 and 1977. His leadership of a team consisting of some of the top names of Pakistan cricket including Imran Khan, Mushtaq Mohammad, Majid Khan and Sarfraz Nawaz was considered to be an example for captains for later generations, as he lead the Test team on 17 occasions from 1969 to 1975.

Whilst his reputation was enhanced at the international level due to his captaincy of a sometimes volatile and aggressive Pakistan side, ‘Inti’ was also a well-known figure in the English county circuit where he represented Surrey with pride in no less than 232 first-class matches between 1969 and 1981.

A consummate professional at heart, his association with international cricket did not end with his retirement as a player, as he continued serving Pakistan as team manager and at times as head coach, with his finest hour coming during Pakistan’s fantastic victory in the 1992 World cup in Australia.

He also had the unique distinction of being part of the Pakistan team in different roles during his career as a player and as he explained, his fondest memories of playing in England are centred around matches at Emerald Headingley, “I’ve had the honour of appearing at Headingley as a County player, international player, captain, coach and team manager and it was always a pleasure going to this world-famous ground. It was always a great experience playing in front of the Headingley crowd, but one thing that sticks in my mind and that is that I never won there as a player with Pakistan.”

What Intikhab was alluding to is Pakistan’s Test record at the iconic Yorkshire cricket venue which has been less than perfect as far as Pakistan are concerned. Of the 9 encounters between Pakistan and England so far, only 1 has been won by the visitors whilst the hosts have won on 5 occasions and 3 matches have been drawn. Intikhab Alam, although disappointed at being the Test captain of Pakistan during 1 loss and a draw at Headingley, has had special affinity with the venue as he remarked.

“I also remember playing at Headingley as part of a World XI alongside and against some of the legends of the game and that was probably one of the few occasions that I was on the winning side there. But winning and losing aside I always loved playing in Leeds and being at such a historic ground which has seen some of the best international matches in the history of the game.”

The pleasure of playing in front of an audience who whilst supporting their home side also appreciate every nuance of the game and give due credit to the opposition for good cricket is a quality which is unique to all those who show up in numbers at Headingley whenever Pakistan play there.

“I always found the crowds at Headingley to be very knowledgeable about the game and never short of a world or two of advice for the opposing players. But it was always good-natured banter and there was never any problems. In fact, I would say that Headingley remains one of my favourite overseas stadiums.”

Given the very competitive nature of encounters between both teams, it is no surprise that players from both countries have great respect for each other and whilst they may have fought fierce battles on the field, the long term connections forged due to these encounters will endure forever as Intikhab describes, “I’ve made many good friends in Yorkshire and it was fantastic to get to know the likes of Ray Illingworth and Geoffrey Boycott through our international encounters for Pakistan and England and also our battles in County cricket. We remained good friends and it was always a pleasure to catch up with them whenever we could.”

Green flags, music and loud cheering with shouts of ‘Pakistan Zindabad’ would normally be a feature of games played in Pakistan but there is little doubt that such overwhelming support, much to the pleasure of the Pakistan visitors, will also be found in Headingley whenever they take the field there.

“Pakistan has always enjoyed a big following at Headingley especially with the huge Pakistani communities in Leeds and Bradford backing their boys and we always enjoyed the support and hospitality we received from the Pakistani community in Yorkshire. I made many friends who are originally from Pakistan and who have settled in Yorkshire and it was always enjoyable to meet them when we played at Headingley.”

Given Pakistan’s less than ideal record at Headingley, odds will favour a home win when both sides meet again in June of next year in the final Test of the 2-match series. If the result of the closely contested 2016 Test series is any guide, chances are that the series may well be decided in a dramatic fashion at Headingley. Whilst recognising England’s home advantage as well as Pakistan’s new-found confidence especially in their bowling department, Intikhab Alam has no doubts that whatever the result, the audience will be treated to a superior game of cricket, “Pakistan faces a tough challenge early season at Headingley next year but I think the tourists will give England a tough battle. England will be favourites on home soil at that time of the year but mark my words this Pakistan team is no pushover. In seamer-friendly conditions I think Mohammad Amir, Hasan Ali and the other Pakistan pace bowlers will be more than a match for England. Whatever the outcome though I expect it to be a fantastic occasion at Headingley and an enjoyable one as always for the players and fans of both sides”, he concluded.

https://yorkshireccc.com/news/view/6101/sadiq-speaks-intikhab-alam-on-emerald-headingley

 

[waleed88]

How has Inti uncle still managed to keep a job all this time? Isn't he 80+ now?

 

[MenInG]

http://www.cricbuzz.com/cricket-new...-alam-pakistan-cricket-shadab-khan-yasir-shah

There's not a single hat in cricket that didn't fit Intikhab Alam. Since retirement, Intikhab has filled in several roles of Pakistan cricket from manager to captain to being chairman of selectors. And very few are better equipped to talk of the current state of Pakistan cricket than him.

Although his leg-spin wasn't in the class of Abdul Qadir, Intikhab rose to fame by claiming a wicket in his first ball in Test cricket. Later, he became the first Pakistani captain to win a series overseas in 1971 and three years later his team returned home unbeaten from England, first time since Don Bradman's 1948 invincibles. He is still the highest wicket taker in first-class cricket in Pakistan. His world record 190-run stand with Asif Iqbal for the ninth wicket stood for more than 30 years.

He was the coach of the Pakistani side that won the 1992 World Cup and the team that won the 2009 World T20. In this interview with Cricbuzz, he chats about Imran Khan's unwavering belief in the 1992 World Cup, the greatest leg-spinners in the world, the future of Shadab Khan, the disappointment of seeing Umar Akmal, whom he picked, going out of the radar, Surrey days and much more.

Excerpts from the interview:

From Pakistan's captain to chairman of selectors, manager and coach you have done all the jobs ...

What keeps me going is the passion. Accepting the challenge and giving my best. You have to work hard and be sincere. If you do that right, I believe it pays off. I have enjoyed my involvement with cricket thoroughly.

What's your best cricketing moment?

Obviously winning the 1992 World Cup is unforgettable. I was coach cum manager at that time. Then in 2009, we won the World T20 at Lord's. Recently I was also very fortunate to receive my honourary PHD degree from the University of Lancaster for my services to cricket. I cherish that moment too.

Imran Khan played a massive role in the 1992 World Cup. The message from him was very clear and it was simple. 'Don't give up'.
Imran Khan played a massive role in the 1992 World Cup. The message from him was very clear and it was simple. 'Don't give up'. © Getty
The 1992 World Cup at one point you had no hope. Tell us about how the team turned things around?

Imran Khan obviously played a massive role. The message from him was very clear and it was simple. 'Don't give up'. We knew we had a difficult task. We had a few injuries to start with. But we peaked at the right time. At one stage you could sense the confidence was bubbling up. It was amazing to win after no one gave us a chance. Imran was not hundred percent fit. But nobody in the team knew about it. We didn't tell anybody. We kept on treating him, giving him pain killers, tablets and injections. The first few hours as he was warming up before a game, he was in absolute agony. It was a great achievement for Pakistan cricket.

Similar story in 2009, slow off the blocks but then gained momentum ...

We picked up slowly. Younis Khan's motto in that competition too was to fight till the last. I always say that if your match winners peak at the right time, you have a good chance of winning any competition. You need to have a fit team; you need to have a vision for the team and most importantly unity within the team. As coach, your role is to get the best out of everybody. This is where human psychology plays a major part. If you have an idea how you can get the best out of someone then that helps. I have seen that over the past so many years.

There are some exciting talents coming through the system in Pakistan. How much do you think the PSL has helped cricket in Pakistan to unearth these raw talents?

The PSL is only two years old. We have some amazing talents coming through. It helps young players when they spend time with professional cricketers who play at the highest level. Look at what happened in India after IPL. It certainly helps. You learn lot of cricket talking to your seniors and sharing the same dressing room with some big stars. It will help more if we start playing in Pakistan. The more we play, the better we are going to get.

Tell us about your time with Surrey as their overseas signing?

Before I joined Surrey, I was actually with Scotland. I played for West of Scotland Cricket Club. The reason I went there was to get used to playing on soft wickets. There was this notion those days that a leg-spinner can't take wickets on grassy wickets and I proved a lot of people wrong. When England came to Pakistan, I did well against them. John Edrich was impressed and he said if you are interested in playing county cricket let me know. I was getting ready to go to Scotland and I stopped over in London for a few days and they requested me to come over. Mickey Stewart was the captain. Stuart Surridge was the chairman. I was bowling in the nets and they offered me to play there straight away. My club in Scotland was very nice to me. The three years I spent with them, we were able to win three championships. They were sad that I was leaving but they didn't stop me. I had 13 years at Surrey and loved the experience. Some great people and I still have contacts with them. It was a great club.


"We picked up slowly in the 2009 World T20. Younis Khan's motto in that competition too was to fight till the last." © Getty
In modern day, of all the wickets in England, the ones in Surrey seem to be the best suited for spinners. Was that the case in your days?

Not really. When I joined them in 1969, the wickets were really good. They were good batting tracks. Harry Brent, who was the curator at Chelmsford, had moved to Surrey. He started relaying the new pitches. Then the wickets started to have more carry and bounce. It doesn't matter if the ball doesn't turn. Once you have the bounce you can be lethal. Mostly people started admitting that leg-spinners can win you matches in whatever the conditions are there. The Oval is an amazing ground. It perhaps has the most squares in the world. They have something like 40 pitches.

Two legspinners - Yasir Shah and Shadab Khan are doing quite well for Pakistan. Your thoughts on them ...

Both are not great flighters of the ball. Yasir Shah is quicker through the air. Shadab has been very successful in limited-overs cricket. He is actually able to turn the ball more than Yasir because of his action. He has got a long way to go. He has to learn how to bowl a flipper and stuff like that. Both of them are not old fashioned type of legspinners. That's because of limited-overs cricket. All want to get into ODI teams these days.

Very good prospect Shadab though. Once he starts to bowl the flipper, he will be even more effective. You see with the rules changing so much - when we were playing it was very tough to get an lbw decision. You could keep on bowling the whole day and the batsmen keep on padding you but you hardly get an lbw decision. But now if you bowl within the stumps and if you hit, you get a wicket. It was tough in our days to get a decision for leg before wicket.


"Once Shadab starts to bowl the flipper, he will be even more effective." © Getty
It seems that Shadab is troubling the best of batsmen in the world with his googly ...

Once he starts bowling in Test matches it will be different. Wrong'un is a wicket taking ball. You shouldn't bowl two or three of them an over. Preserve it. Use it carefully. Otherwise the teams will start watching you closely and eventually work you out. You have to be smart. Whenever you bowl a wrong'un, you must get a wicket. When you bowl too many of them, that's a bad idea. Be selective. The leg-break is your stock ball and then you work on variations.

Also it depends on what type of wicket you bowl. If the ball is not turning and skidding through, then you have to change the angle trying to deliver from the bowling crease and stuff.

Who is the greatest leg-spinner the world has seen?

If you talk statistically it's Shane Warne. He was a great turner of the ball, especially the leg-break. Anil Kumble was quick through the air. He wasn't a great turner of the ball but had good control. He had a wrong'un but not so great. But he was an outstanding bowler. Abdul Qadir had a very deceptive wrong'un. He wasn't a big turner. He developed the flipper later on, but his main weapon was the wrong'un. Qadir wasn't far away from Warne.


"Umar Akmal has ruined his career due to his own follies." © Getty
When you came to Sri Lanka as coach in 2009, Umar Akmal made his debut and he looked so promising. But he has had a few issues in recent times. Is there a way back into the team for him?

He actually was with the 'A' team in Australia and I took him down to Sri Lanka because the talent was evident. He has ruined his career due to his own follies. He has a long way to go still, but he has to discipline himself. He will probably get back to the side.

Abdul Hafiz Kardar, Pakistan's first Test captain and a father figure to developing cricket nations, seemed to have had a massive impact on you as well. Can you tell us more about that?

Mr. Kardar is a big name in Pakistan and a great friend of Sri Lanka. He helped Sri Lanka to gain full membership of the ICC. He was a man of vision. I owe a great deal for him. He was the person who spotted me. He encouraged me to go places.

I'll tell you a fascinating story. In 1958, when the Pakistan team came back from West Indies, there was a three-day match organised by Karachi Cricket Association in Karachi. I was in school those days - Church Mission School. But I didn't get selected. My elder brother was a good cricketer. He was playing for Public Works Department and some Test cricketers used to play there as well. Mr. Khafiludeen Ahmed was a board member and he was heading Pakistan Works Department. At his house he had prepared a net where everyone used to go and bowl. My elder brother took me along. Bowlers were always welcome. As I was bowling in the nets, Mr. Abdul Hafiz Kardar turned up. I was bowling at Wazir Mohammad, the elder brother of Hanif Mohammad. Then I got him out. Waqar Hasaan and Alimuddin were also dismissed by me. After the session, Mr. Kardar came up to me and asked are you playing tomorrow. I said I have not been selected. Then he told me, 'I am telling you, you are going to play tomorrow.' It was an unbelievable feeling.

The next morning I went to Karachi Stadium and everyone asked me what are you doing here. There's no school match today. Anyway I went onto play and took four wickets that day. I was picked because of him. I owe a great deal to him. Those days a young team used to go to England called Pakistan eaglets. This was way back in 1950s. I was selected to go on this tour. Once you were selected, you had to pay Rs. 5000 from your pocket. The board used to bear the rest of the cost. I didn't have that much of money and couldn't ask my father either. It was too much of money those days. Mr. Kardar was the secretary of the Ministry of Education. I met him and said, 'Sir, I have a problem.' Then he listened to my cases and got me the money required from the Ministry of Education.

I took 139 wickets on that tour and scored almost 1000 runs. When Pakistan went to West Indies in 1958, Nazim-ul-Ghani and Haseeb Ahsan were two youngsters who hadn't played a single first-class game and he selected them having watched club cricket. They were successful in West Indies. He was a father figure to Pakistani cricket, a man of character, great personality, great leader and man of stature. We owe a lot to him and he did so much for us. He was an Oxford Blue. He was well educated and played for Warwickshire.

You were 18 when you made your Test debut. What are you memories of that?

Yes it was against Richie Benaud's side. He was another leg-spinner. I took a wicket off my first ball in Test cricket. I was the first and only Pakistani to do so far. It was their opener Colin McDonald. Then soon I went on the tour of India. It was my first tour with the Pakistan team. There was some terrific cricket played, but all five games were drawn. The last game at Delhi was a classic. We were lucky to save that game. Great memories. Fazal Mahmood was the captain and we had Hanif Mohammad too. It was a good sporting rivalry. We got on well with the opposition players. India too had a strong side. There was Jaisimha, Manjrekar, Umrigar, Borde and Contractor was the skipper.

The Champions Trophy final in England between India and Pakistan was a great atmosphere. Not many cricket fans missed watching that match. Is there a sense of disappointment that we don't see that theater often?

Cricket has to be left alone from politics. India and Pakistan are two leading cricket playing nations. It is very sad that we don't play against each other. It has nothing to do with the players or boards. It has got to go with the two governments. If they are able to keep politics out of cricket, it's great for the game. I hope one day very soon we will play bilateral series.

Do you have any role with the PCB at the moment?

I was working with them until last year when we toured England. We became number one team in the world. That was a memorable moment. I was glad to leave on a happy note. We are very fortunate to have some very good youngsters coming through. I don't want to retire actually. I love to be involved with the game. I am 75 now.

How happy are you to see international cricket returning to Pakistan?

I am absolutely delighted to see international cricket coming back to Pakistan. We are all very grateful to Sri Lanka for coming to Pakistan. We go a long way back. When they were not a full member of the ICC, Pakistan generously helped Sri Lanka out. Over the years, our boards and players have good rapport. I have visited Sri Lanka many times and I have many friends over there.

It was unfortunate what happened in 2009. As for Pakistan, it's not easy to be starved of international cricket for eight years. We have suffered a lot. Our cricket suffered a lot. It is about time the rest of the world realised that you can't go on forever like this.

Things are far better now. Law and order situation is very good and it is improving. We are hoping West Indies will come soon. The players suffered a lot and their families as well. At times, we haven't even been able to play our domestic cricket at home and we go to places like Dubai, Sharjah and Abu Dhabi. The board has suffered financially. Full marks to Sri Lankan players, the board and the government. I hope they will come for a full Test series.