LAHORE, Aug 12: Former Test captain Intikhab Alam, while supporting the decision to drop top batsman Mohammad Yousuf and veteran all-rounder Abdul Razzaq from the Pakistan team for the Twenty20 World Championship, has expressed concern over late arrival of new coach Geoff Lawson.

Intikhab is also critical of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) for threatening cricketers with bans for joining the Indian Cricket League (ICL).

Talking to Dawn on Sunday, Intikhab said the Twenty20 cricket was more demanding and youngsters were the better choice instead of ageing Yousuf and Razzaq.

“The South Africans also gave rest to seasoned Jacques Kallis for the Twenty20 World Championship and I believe our national selectors took a right decision by dropping Yousuf and Razzaq,” Intikhab said.

“No doubt both are world-class players and they have done a lot for the country, but Twenty20 cricket requires alert fielding, good running between the wickets and line and length bowling to win matches,” he said.

Intikhab said that with the introduction of new rules of free hit for every no ball, the bowlers had to be extra careful as no team could bear the luxury.

The former skipper, however, avoided to predict chances of Pakistan’s victory in the World Championship, which is being held in South Africa from Sept 11 to 24.

“Let us hope for better results, but no doubt the boys have to work very hard to achieve a respectable place,” he said.

Intikhab expressed astonishment over the late arrival of Lawson, the former Australian Test bowler. “What is Geoff Lawson doing in Sydney? He should be here soon after the PCB appointed him as the new coach. Time is running short and I do not see Lawson's effective role in preparing the strategy for the World Championship in such a short time,” Intikhab opined.

“Lawson has to know the psyche of each player and the local cricket atmosphere with a big handicap of communication problems. I think he will not get enough time to meet all the challenges in such a short time,” he said.

Lawson was appointed new Pakistan coach in mid July in place of late Bob Woolmer. He is scheduled to reach here on Aug 21, just 20 days before the start of the World Championship. He will look at the Pakistan squad in the last phase of the training camp that is being held in Lahore from Aug 19.

“I believe if Lawson was here during the third phase of the training camp in Karachi, he would have some role in the team's selection for the World Championship, which was essential,” Intikhab pointed out.

Intikhab said no player should be banned for playing in the proposed ICL as it was the right of every player to secure his future.

“There is no need of imposing ban on those cricketers who intend to play the ICL and the PCB should not stop any one from doing so,” he remarked.

“It is the same case like that of Kerry Packer circus in the 1970s and the people still remember all the boards had to accept the reality and lift the ban on all players,” he said.

“The start of ICL is good for cricket as it will provide more opportunities to the players to earn money and to make their future bright,” he said.

Intikhab advised the PCB not to compromise on discipline and it had rightly imposed a cash fine of Rs300,000 on fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar for skipping out the national training camp in Karachi on Aug 4.

“Discipline must be the top priority of the PCB and it should not show any lenient attitude for any player in this connection,” he concluded.