ISLAMABAD, Oct 31: Newly appointed Pakistan cricket coach, Intikhab Alam, has stressed that discipline, physical fitness and a collective team effort was the only way out for preparing a strong squad to meet the challenges of international cricket.

Talking to reporters at the Diamond Cricket Club on Friday Intikhab said: “We want to increase the potential of the players and this needs massive orientation of the national squad”.

When queried about Pakistan’s lack of international exposure since the last many months against a strong side he said: “I don’t believe in making excuses that we don’t have international exposure as the current ongoing Pentangular series is a good battle ground for the players to be prepared for big events”.

It’s better, he said, if the national team players played more domestic cricket.

Regarding the upcoming three-match ODI series against the West Indies, scheduled to be held from Nov 12 in Abu Dhabi, Intikhab pointed out: “If you analyze the West Indies team, they have done well against strong teams like Australia but our players have the potential to perform well against them.”

About captain Shoaib Malik the former Test cricketer said: “Malik is very much there with the team and I will back him as a captain as he is a young and talented guy with a capability to perform under pressure. I will try to improve the environment of the dressing room also,” asserted the coach.

Intikhab, 66, was also the coach and manager of the Pakistan cricket team which won the World Cup in 1992. However, his sudden entry as a coach after the exit of Australian coach Geoff Lawson was not welcomed by some in the cricketing circles. Commenting on Intikhab’s presence with the team, Shoaib Malik, Pakistan cricket team captain, said: “I have full confidence in the coach and I even played my debut match under him.”

When asked about the dressing room environment, Shoaib asserted: “The environment of the dressing room is very good and I don’t think that is something to be worked on”.

“Yes, professional jealousies are there and in my opinion this will lead the team to perform well. Now our main target is to win the upcoming two international series,” he said.