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
Samiul Hasan
06-Feb-2000
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.