PCB demands report on Pakistan’s worst defeat

The predictable fallout from a disastrous loss to Sri Lanka in the series-deciding ODI at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore has begun with the PCB asking Shoaib Malik and the Pakistan team management to submit a detailed report of the loss by Tuesday.

Pakistan were bowled out for just 75, their lowest total at home, and it resulted in their heaviest defeat ever in terms of runs, by 234 runs, in the third ODI third ODI on Saturday. Malik, coach Intikhab Alam and chief selector Abdul Qadir have also been summoned by the senate's sports committee to explain the reasons behind the loss.

"I have instructed Yawar Saeed (manager) and coach Intikhab Alam to give their detailed comments on the defeat in the next two days so that we can find out what happened. The board wants to know what has to be done to rectify the situation and set things right,"

Ijaz Butt, chairman of the PCB, said.

"We can't tolerate such poor performances from anyone. Like others I am also surprised at the way our batsmen played but I can't make any further comment until receiving a detailed report,"

he added.

A number of aspects of the performance are likely to come under the scanner, from the dropping of Sohail Tanvir, to going in with three spinners when all the talk had been of using pace.

Salman Butt's decision to go off the field with two overs left in the Sri Lanka innings, which eventually prevented him from opening the innings and requiring a re-jig in the batting order was another in a long line of costly mistakes. Asked whether the team management was aware of the rules, Butt said the opener had been told by the manager, but got late.

"It could be one of the reasons because [Salman] Butt was one of the in-form batsmen. However, there is no excuse too be bowled out for just 75,"

the chairman said.

Rawalpindi ruled out for India's Pakistan tour

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Ijaz Butt on Tuesday said Rawalpindi has been dropped as a venue for the upcoming home series against India because the central city's stadium is not ready.

"We will not be able to finish the renovation work that includes the relaying of the outfield, so the matches scheduled for Rawalpindi will be shifted to other cities,"

the PCB chairman said.

Rawalpindi was scheduled to host the second of three Test series and the third match of the five limited-overs international match series.

Ijaz Butt said Faisalabad or Multan, due to host one-day internationals during the India series, were likely replacements.

Rawalpindi's Pindi cricket stadium was also excluded from the list of venues for the Champions Trophy, which was to be held in September this year but was put off for 12 months due to security fears.

Pakistan's main concern remains to convince India that issues over safety should not stop the tourists visiting.

The Indian government's refusal to send its junior hockey team to Pakistan earlier this month raised fears that the cricket series might suffer the same fate.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India last week told the PCB it had sought New Delhi's clearance for the tour and would give further details early next month.

Butt said he hoped the tour would continue as scheduled and briefed the Indian high commissioner Satya Pal about PCB's plans for the series.

"I am hopeful that India will tour and we are preparing for it,"

said Butt, who refused to disclose any details of his meeting -- his second with the Indian high commissioner in a week.

Butt added that he would travel to India early next month to allay the country's security concerns.

"Our first priority should be that they come to Pakistan as per schedule but in the worst scenario we have back up plans of playing the series at neutral venues,"

said Butt.

Pakistan is in talks with the organisers in the United Arab Emirates to host the India series in case the need arises.

Intikhab prefers domestic games over camps

Intikhab Alam, the new Pakistan coach, has given preference to match experience in domestic tournaments over camps to prepare for the home series against India in January next year. Intikhab took over from Geoff Lawson in late October and his first assignment will be the ODI series against West Indies in Abu Dhabi starting November 12.

"I would say there is no better way to prepare national team probables than to make them play every competitive match of the forthcoming Quaid-e-Azam Trophy,"

Intikhab told the Karachi-based News.

"It is useless organising and arranging long-duration camps when the top domestic competition is in progress."

Pakistan's national players are currently participating in the Pentangular Trophy, a provincial four-day domestic tournament, which will be followed by the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy, the country's premier first-class competition.

Intikhab said even though Pakistan have played no Test cricket since early this year they have an advantage over India, who have played 11 Tests, including the ongoing one in Delhi, as well as four ODI series.

"[India] must be feeling exhausted by the time they play the series against Pakistan starting at the turn of year. By the time the Indians will be here, the probables after playing good and hard domestic cricket would be in a better position to deliver."

Intikhab, who coached Pakistan during their victorious World Cup campaign in 1992 and then again in 2000, said the job was about man management.

"Most of the boys emerging to the forefront already have the knowledge of basic coaching. What a coach does is to make slight adjustments in the technique of a player if he goes wrong somewhere or to work mentally on him if he has got a habit of committing the same mistake regularly. A coach is the one who earns respect from the boys leading by example. Cricket is all about discipline, patience and training and learning in a friendly atmosphere."

Intikhab said he was fortunate to have played alongside Ijaz Butt, the current Pakistan board chairman.

"It is always easy to do your job when you feel you would not get interrupted."

Intikhab Alam appointed Pakistan’s new cricket coach

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named former captain and manager Intikhab Alam as the new national cricket coach on Saturday, a day after Australian Geoff Lawson was sacked.

Intikhab Alam will take the helm for Pakistan's upcoming series of three one-day
internationals against the West Indies in November at the neutral venue of Abu Dhabi.

"We have appointed Intikhab as the coach as we found him to be the suitable candidate,"

PCB chairman Ijaz Butt said.

"He will accompany the team to Abu Dhabi for the one-day internationals against the West Indies."

The PCB sacked former Australian Test fast bowler Lawson on Friday after a string of poor results. He had spent just 15 months in the job, regarded as one of the toughest in world cricket.

The 66-year-old Intikhab Alam has also been Pakistan coach and manager on several occasions, most notably during Pakistan's World Cup title win in 1992. Former captain and master batsman Javed Miandad was also a candidate for the post.

Butt said the length of Intikhab's contract was expected to be decided next week.

"We would like to appoint Alam for a two-year contract, but we have to get final approval from the members of the governing board,"

said Butt, who took over as chairman earlier this month.

Intikhab said he would try to do his best for Pakistan.

"It's a big responsibility,"

he said.

"It is not an easy job and I have taken up this assignment as a big challenge,"

said Alam, who will abandon his contract with Punjab in India, where he was to take over this month.

Intikhab Alam said discipline would be his top priority for the controversy-hit Pakistan side.

"I will try to maintain discipline because no player is bigger than the game and discipline has been our problem, so that will be my top priority,"

said Intikhab, who played 47 Tests between 1959-75 and also led Pakistan in 17 Tests.

As a quality leg-spinner he took 125 wickets, his first coming on his first delivery in Test cricket against Australia in 1959.

Captain to be consulted in team selection: Ejaz Butt

Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board Ejaz Butt has assured Saturday that captain Pakistan cricket team Shoaib Malik would be consulted for selection of the national cricket team.

He said this during a meeting with Shoaib Malik and the selection committee at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore.

Shoaib Malik said after the meeting that the selection for the national team, for next tour, would be made on mutual consultation of the captain and the selection committee.

He quoted PCB chairman as saying that no in-disciplinary act would be allowed and only the in-form players would become part of the team.

Malik said neither does exist any conflict nor there is any grouping in the team and ruled out news regarding PCB former chairman Dr. Naseem Ashraf’s joining cricket team in dressing room during a T20 match in Toronto.

Meanwhile, the chairman selection committee said that team selection, for series in Abu Dhabi against the West Indies, would be evaluated on the performance of players in the first two matches of the Toronto T20 tournament.