Sri Lanka is a tough side but our boys too have it in them to give a tough time to the opposition: Pakistani coach Intikhab Alam.—AP/File
LAHORE: Following their emphatic World Twenty20 win, Pakistan’s next mission is a three-Test series against Sri Lanka which commences early next month and is likely to be a tough challenge for Younus Khan’s men.
Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam told Dawn here on Wednesday that the series will be an entirely different ball game ‘as it will require our boys to make a successful transformation from one version of cricket to another.’
The Pakistan team is scheduled to leave for Sri Lanka on June 27 to play the Test series which will be followed by five ODIs and one Twenty20 game.
‘The weather and playing conditions in Sri Lanka are not easy and we will chalk up a strategy after considering all aspects to field the best combination against them,’ Intikhab said while adding that it was still a bit premature to say anything or be sure about the pitches in Sri Lanka.
‘Hot weather is not a problem for us but humidity can create problems, especially for the fast bowlers,’ he said.
Though Pakistan have only two specialist openers — Salman Butt and Khurram Manzoor — and two seasoned fast bowlers in Umar Gul and Abdul Razzaq, Intikhab was not worried about the team combination for the series.
‘Yes, we have two openers who must perform to the best of their abilities. Besides, we need to give them confidence that they have to play all three matches,’ he said.
The coach added that talented Abdul Rauf had been given a chance to prove his worth after he emerged as the top wicket-taker in the last domestic season.
‘Abdul Rauf is fast improving and his performance in the last domestic season earned him a place in the national team. I do hope for him to come up to expectations,’ Intikhab said.
Rauf had been rejected by former chief selector Abdul Qadir, who said he was overage.
He was not even given a chance to prove his worth despite the fact that he took 84 wickets in the last domestic season, giving fine performances in all the three first class tournaments — taking 54 wickets in the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy for Multan Region, 19 wickets in the Pentangular Cup and 12 in the National One-day Cup.
As captain, he also led Multan region into the National Twenty20 semi-final. It is learnt that skipper Younus Khan supported Rauf’s selection as he was not happy with the performances of Sohail Tanvir, Yasir Arafat and Rao Iftikhar who were dropped for the tough tour of Sri Lanka.
Intikhab was all praise for upcoming paceman Mohammad Aamir, who was part of the World Twenty20 squad. Though Aamir could not really run through sides in T20, his haul of six wickets from seven matches in his first ever international competition indicates that the 17-year-old has a lot of potantial.
Intikhab said Sri Lanka was a tough side but his boys too have it in them to give a tough time to the opposition.
Referring to the spin department the coach said that although the team would miss Afridi, who has request for a 15-day rest, quality spinners such as Saeed Ajmal, Danish Kaneria, Fawad Alam and Shoaib Malik were there to handle this department.
He said that the return of prolific batsman Mohammad Yousuf would also provide a boost to the batting department which is strong in presence of Younus Khan, Misbah-ul-Haq, Faisal Iqbal, Shoaib Malik in the middle order.
Agencies add: Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam is in favour of one captain for all forms of the game since ‘it fosters better co-ordination among team members.’
Intikhab, who hinted he was not informed by Younus Khan about his retirement decision from Twenty20 cricket, said he would prefer him to lead all three teams — Test, ODI and T20.
‘Having one captain for Tests, ODIs and T20 cricket means you have more harmony in the team and the players are also comfortable with their captain. The communication levels improve a lot within the team,’ he said on Wednesday.
The former Test captain, who has the rare distinction of guiding two separate Pakistan teams to World Cup glory in ODIs and T20, said he would like to see Younus reconsider his decision.
‘He didn’t talk to us about it. His announcement came as a surprise to me as well,’ he added.
Intikhab said the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) and selectors would now have to take a call on who would lead the country in the T20 international during the upcoming tour of Sri Lanka.
‘I am happy that Younus has handled things very well. He is a very good captain and showed lot of maturity in the World Cup and the players responded equally well,’ he added.
Younus had said he took the decision to retire from T20 cricket after much thought as he was too old for the shortest form of the game.
Looking ahead to the tour of Sri Lanka, Alam said the players would start preparing for the Test series after a few days’ rest.
‘Mohammad Yousuf is back which is good news for our batting. The players have been told to change their mindset for the coming Test series as Sri Lanka are a very good side and hard to beat on their home ground,’ he said.
The former skipper said the players were well aware of the challenge they would face against the Sri Lankan spinners in the Test series.
The team leaves for the Emerald Islands on June 27 to play three Tests, five One-day Internationals and a T20 match. The coach hoped the T20 World Cup victory would help Pakistan host more international matches.
‘The victory has come at a good time. It has enhanced our image as a sports loving nation and also lifted the gloom,’ said Intikhab.
No comments:
Post a Comment