10 July 2004	Saturday	21 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

LAHORE, July 9: Former Test cricketer Intikhab Alam on Friday declared that selectors should be consistent if they want to build a strong team.

Talking to Dawn, Intikhab, a former manager and coach, remarked that dropping middle-order batsman Aasim Kamal from the team showed the selection committee was not consistent.

Aasim, he said, performed exceptionally well in the home series against India but was dropped as he was considered to be Test player only. He said that special attention should be paid towards the undisciplined attitude of Imran Nazir, who had been included for Asia Cup after one year in the wilderness.

About next week's Asia Cup, Intikhab opined that the hosts Sri Lanka would take the advantage since it has been playing cricket regularly while India and Pakistan would be in action after three months.

He said that Asia Cup would provide Pakistan an opportunity to avenge their home defeat at the hands of India. Intikhab, under whose coaching Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup, said that new Pakistan coach, Bob Woolmer, had a good reputation in coaching, but, it would be difficult for him to coach the Pakistan as compared to South African side.

He pointed out that fielding and fitness were two weak areas of the team. Criticising the PCB policy of hiring foreign coaches for short stints, Intikhab believed that it would not produce desired results.

PCB has hired former Australian captain, Greg Chappell, South African batsman Barry Richards and bowling coach from Australia Daryl Foster for short stints. Foster is on a two-week assignment while Richards and Chappel have been engaged for four one-week durations stretched over almost a year.