LAHORE, Aug 15: Former Pakistan captain Intikhab Alam has asked the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) to appoint Younis Khan as captain in place of Inzamam-ul-Haq immediately after the current tour of England.

“Inzamam has not been able to motivate his teammates as captain in the recent series.

“He has rarely appeared involved with the proceedings on the field and has not led from the front which should have been the case," lamented Inti while chatting to reporters here the other day.

The former all-rounder said now was the right time for the PCB to replace Inzamam with Younis Khan who had shown all the qualities of becoming a fine skipper.

"Younis looks more enthusiastic on the field and he is always making things happen. He should at once be handed the control of the team as the World Cup is only seven months away," said Intikhab.

Earlier this year, the PCB named Inzamam as captain till December 2006 but Pakistan’s recent defeats against England may well see a change at the helm sooner than most fans and critics expect.

The PCB chairman Shaharyar M Khan was also circumspect when quizzed on Inzamam’s exact tenure as skipper.

“Inzamam is our captain till the ICC Champions Trophy but it is upto the ad hoc committee to give him an extension or not,” Shaharyar was quoted as saying in the press recently.

Commenting on Inzamam’s leadership in the ongoing England series, Intikhab said so far the burly batsman had failed to impress on the tour.

He agreed with Imran Khan that Inzamam should have batted at number four in the Headingley Test to set personal example for his teammates.

"That would have inspired the younger members of the team to demonstrate their true potential in the middle," he said.

Intikhab, who was Pakistan’s coach during their magnificent World Cup triumph in 1992, also criticized Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer for indulging in too much experimentation with the batting line-up.

"Woolmer has tried dozens of combinations but has failed to come-up with a reliable opening pair in the last two years. He and his hand-picked physio and trainer have also failed in maintaining the fitness of the players on this very important England tour," he said.

Intikhab advised pace ace Shoaib Akhtar not to play the fourth Test at The Oval.

"I like Shoaib despite his wayward practices at times. He is our asset but he should not hurry his comeback into international cricket.

“It would be a joke to include him for The Oval Test since he has played just one game in five months, that too against a village side," he said.