11 July 2004	Sunday	22 Jamadi-ul-Awwal 1425

NEW DELHI, July 10: Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam is set to become the first foreigner to coach a domestic Indian team. Former Ranji Trophy national champions Punjab have announced Intikhab will be their full-time coach next season, subject to visa clearance.

Intikhab, 62, told the Indian Express newspaper on Saturday he was enthusiastic about the forthcoming assignment.

"I don't think there will be any cultural or language problem," he was quoted as saying.

"I thought about it (taking up the assignment) for three weeks before realising this was a challenge I couldn't pass up."

A former leg-spinning all-rounder, Intikhab was born in India before the partition of the two countries, and speaks the same language as his new team's players.

"I have not spoken to any former player like Bishen Bedi about it yet," said Intikhab, who coached the Pakistan team that triumphed in the 1992 World Cup in Australia.

Intikhab, whose contract runs from September to March next year, will hope to resurrect the fortunes of the northern Indian state side, who won their only Ranji title in 1992-1993.

Punjab's dashing left-handed batsman Yuvraj Singh and successful off-spinner Harbhajan Singh are regular members of the Indian team.

Dinesh Mongia, who was part of the team that made the final of last year's World Cup in South Africa, is the state's current captain.

Intikhab, who led Pakistan in 17 Test matches, played a total of 47 Tests between 1959 and 1977, scoring 1,493 runs and picking up 125 wickets. He also played four One-day Internationals.-AFP

Our Lahore correspondent adds: Reacting to the decision of the Punjab Cricket Association (PCA) of hiring him as a coach, Intikhab told Dawn that it was an honour for Pakistan and for him as well.

Intikhab said he would also love to coach the team of Punjab because he was born in Hoshiarpur, a city of the same state.

He said the PCA offered him the contract during the series between Pakistan and India in March-April this year and he accepted it and was directly signed between him and the PCA and had nothing to do with the PCB.

Intikhab also disclosed that he also coached West Indian Academy which has produced players like Ramnaresh Sarwan 1997-98.

When asked Pakistani coaches were being trusted the world over and why the PCB was not relying on them, Intikhab replied: "It is up to the board and not me."