Intikhab Alam returns as Pakistan manager

E-Paper | November 02, 2026

Intikhab Alam returns as Pakistan manager

Dawn Sport Published September 21, 2015

LAHORE: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced the return of 73-year-old Intikhab Alam as the manager of the country's cricket team.

Alam was on the edge of losing his post of director domestic cricket after the PCB decided to abolish this designation along with the position of director international cricket.

In 2008, Alam was appointed as Pakistan's coach but was replaced by Waqar Younis immediately after the country's shambolic tour to Australia in 2010.

This will be Alam's fourth managerial stint with the Pakistan team.

Previously, he accompanied the 1992 World Cup winning team as manager-coach, later was made coach in 2000 for a brief period, before making a surprise return in 2008.

The development comes as Naveed Akram Cheema, former manager of the team, stepped down after being appointed chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission by the government.

Talking to Dawn, Cheema confirmed that he had informed the PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan about his decision of leaving the said post during a meeting on Friday.

Cheema said it was not possible for him to perform two jobs simultaneously.

“I wish good luck to Pakistan cricket with the hope it will develop further on positive note,” Cheema stated.

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Kabeela Khan

Sep 21, 2015 05:36pm

Nepotism at its best!

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Karachi wala

Sep 21, 2015 05:44pm

What a shame to PCB they did not find any one except 73 old guy

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Amir

Sep 21, 2015 05:50pm

How can Pak Cricket improve when same OLD people run PCB. I am sure there are better individuals in Pakistan to run PCB affairs.

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M.Saeed

Sep 21, 2015 05:53pm

At 73, Intikhab may not know the intricate devices of illegal means available and depth of their involvements in sports.

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KHAN

Sep 21, 2015 06:02pm

To all those criticizing, Pakistan has brought two cups home under his services. Manager-Coach: 1992 ODI World Cup win Coach: 2009 T20 World Cup win When a team wins, all credit to the players, when it loses, blame the management and force sackings. Need to change the mindset.

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khurram Khan

Sep 21, 2015 06:11pm

@KHAN we appreciate his services but it does not mean that he would stick to PCB like a parasite. He should be at home now enjoying his life after retirement.

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khurram Khan

Sep 21, 2015 06:12pm

I respect his previous services but now he is NOT fit for this job, period.He wants to stay in PCB at any cost at any post. Shame!!!

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Cyrus

Sep 21, 2015 06:14pm

Some of these old guys are still great managers. His age is not a handicap.

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javed qamer

Sep 21, 2015 06:16pm

Under his term three players were caught fixing games. He is back. He is too old to be involved in cricket.

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Qasim

Sep 21, 2015 06:28pm

PCB an ideal employer for senior citizens

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Pakistan

Sep 21, 2015 06:59pm

@Kabeela Khan nepotism at its worst.

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Wali

Sep 21, 2015 07:10pm

If ever a decision personified Pakistan Cricket and it's workings!

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AXH

Sep 21, 2015 07:15pm

He has not done anything for the Pakistan Cricket. Those who are arguing that how he was part of the 1992 WC team need to understand that it was all IK who was leading the strategy and not Intikhab.

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saj

Sep 21, 2015 07:17pm

@Karachi wala Whats age go to do with it

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Concerned

Sep 21, 2015 07:31pm

Is there any retirement age for PCB employees?

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Shahid

Sep 21, 2015 07:35pm

Intekhab Alam plans to serve Pakistan cricket all the way to end of his days. Doesn't matter if he finds it hard to move around in this age, he is a legend and even his presence will infuse a fighting spirit in the players. It might actually be a good idea to have some more legends of his age accompanying the team for inspirations.

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Canada

Sep 21, 2015 07:43pm

73 years old? Gosh is there no competent person that can lead who has more energy, has a more modern mindset and that has been brought up in the newer form of the game asides from a 73 year old? I mean maybe as a consultant but wow. The world is a rapidly changing place now, we aren't in the 20th century anymore.

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syed

Sep 21, 2015 07:49pm

My God. Fresh blood in PCB? Moving forward!!

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concerned

Sep 21, 2015 08:23pm

Intekhab Alam was a great player of his time and served the country well. Reward him with some cash money and wish him well he desrves it as all others who have served along with him. Bring on someone younger on merit if the interest of the country and game is at heart.

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Wasim

Sep 21, 2015 08:31pm

The world has moved on, and yet PCB is still busy playing musical chairs with the spent and aging relics of the past. Mr Intikhab Alam belongs to the Pak Cricket Hall of Fame, not Pak Cricket National Team.

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A. Ali

Sep 21, 2015 08:42pm

Indeed he is a good guy, clean and honest. but at 73 one wonders why he was chosen as manager. secondly what else you expect for Shahryar who himself is 86 years, so 73 seems quite young. hats off to wisdom of PCB and patron in chief.

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BRIJ

Sep 21, 2015 08:49pm

73 year old man is chosen since he shares some percentage of his remuneration with PCB Chairman.

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Umer Salahuddin

Sep 21, 2015 08:53pm

Do we not have any competent person in Pakistan for the cricket team of Pakistan. Why he is given preference all the times and under him Pakistan did not make any significant success.

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Shakil USA

Sep 21, 2015 09:17pm

Considering at age 73 he should be enjoying retirement. Is PCB has first class vision for the team? There are better some young individuals in Pakistan.

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suhbat khan

Sep 21, 2015 09:28pm

Akram cheema enjoyed PCB a lot & now joining another lucrative post.

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Simran

Sep 21, 2015 09:33pm

Is Pakistan short of talent that they keep going back to oldies? I don't think so then why not make retired cricketers manager?

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Azam Qadeer

Sep 21, 2015 10:07pm

pcb come on need young blood

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mohammed

Sep 21, 2015 10:11pm

Why do we need old horse to show new tricks. Man let him go he is 73years old need some good time before the end.

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Shabir Subarati

Sep 21, 2015 10:13pm

What shame PCB Chairman doing Favoritism, preferential treatment, Nepotism, dictatorial, his age is 81 and selecting Alam at 73 yrs. Sharyar is Grouping Misbah, Azhar, Haroon, Shakil Shaikh, Subhan, Waqar all belong to his group, rotating from in and out, never bringing new current, modern cricketers, he should used democratic way. When Captaincy for ODI came he dig a player who was not played since 2013, not selected for w/c 2015 but on top of that he in nigh on blessing of Sharyar become captain, when two team of Karachi came he refused and Faroqui resigned.

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Sep 21, 2015 10:42pm

Cricket is all about records and no one can beat our records in old, inept, have never played; professional soldier; bureaucrat; and hundred other types of managers.

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Karachi wala

Sep 21, 2015 10:48pm

@KHAN During 73 years long period he brought only 2 cups. This statistics itself shows his caliber & Capability of the sports. Shame again. We do not have younger people to do this job. We should get rid of all these old guys who made an empire in our country & believes in grouping in the team. Get rid of all these monarch who comes back all the time from the back door. I wonder the guys like this would like to come back even after their death.

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shabut

Sep 21, 2015 10:59pm

For God's sake, can't he leave on his own. How much greed these people have. Just unbelievable.

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Ali Shah

Sep 22, 2015 12:23am

I wonder, what is it that Intekhab alam has got at the age of 72 that other Pakistanis don't have? Why is he not rested, when that is really he needs at this age. I don't know if he can bring any good to the team. He always remained the Yes-man for the board, but then there are so many other young people who are willing to fill his shoes. Don't understand the logic of PCB in this case.

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Jason

Sep 22, 2015 12:44am

With due respect to Mr Alam, it is not his age that is of concern, but that this is his 4th stint at the same objective. I would imagine quite deserving people do not want this job, and the rest will be a mix of ones who can actually not be able to do it!

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Zafar Ahmed

Sep 22, 2015 12:52am

It is time to say good by to Intikhab Alam and shame on PCB for keeping him at this age !

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raaz

Sep 22, 2015 12:53am

Out of 200Million people, we have two families to be our PrimeMinisters, a few people to be the PCB chairmen, and a 73 year old man to be our cricket teams Manager.

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ravian

Sep 22, 2015 01:48am

Could not find a young or middle aged energetic manager? Must be pcb chairman,s selection, who is no spring chicken either. Our past is always glorious?

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ravian

Sep 22, 2015 01:52am

@raaz Well said.

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Dr. Sehar Khan

Sep 22, 2015 02:00am

@KHAN ...Well, then keep him until he turns 90s

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Dr. Salaria, Aamir Ahmad

Sep 22, 2015 02:09am

Welcome back. He was one of the best leg spin and googly bowler of his time who has the unique distinction of getting his first test wicket on the very first ball he bowled against Australia.

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A Knight's Tail

Sep 22, 2015 02:19am

Pakistan cricket is being run by Senior citizens. Misbah 40+, Sheheryar 80+ and now Intikhab 70+ :)

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graphicalmax

Sep 22, 2015 02:38am

Intikhab is suitable choice for team Manager. He has handled them all from the likes of Imran to Shoaib. Let me remind you that IK made his debut under Intikhab. His managerial experience will come in handy. He is not physically fit for a coaching role but management is another ball game altogether.

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NeutraView

Sep 22, 2015 02:41am

Couldn't they have picked, Aamir Sohail, Inzimam, Saqlain, Saeed Anwar, Rashid Latif for the post. Show how PCB is being run.

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NeutraView

Sep 22, 2015 02:44am

@Canada if CM of Sindh can keep going, why can't Intikhab?

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A PAKISTANI

Sep 22, 2015 05:02am

For God's sake, give us something new, how long will we have to see him and more similar people like Haroon Rasheed etc If a person doesn't get retired at his deserving age, it's injustice to others in the first place plus the fact that in this new world of media and technology, you have to bring new people to the management who have latest education and vision to meet the competition.

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Syed

Sep 22, 2015 06:17am

Give him retirement. Hire somebody young who has motivation and fire. Mohsin khan is ideal but again his parchi is not that strong.

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Que

Sep 22, 2015 10:13am

PLEASE NO!!! Come on PCB; a below average cricket player and extremely below average administrator!! Why keep hiring 'dead wood'????

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Talha

Sep 22, 2015 12:25pm

He is 73 now, a better option would be to hire someone who is more energetic.

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Fazi

Sep 22, 2015 12:38pm

A big disappointment. Is PCB a family entity where we keep on seeing same faces again and again. Cricket is a passion of Pakistan and a handful wants to control it. We have a lot of cricketers who will be more active and suited.

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Irfan UK

Sep 22, 2015 01:55pm

I ams shocked to hear this terrible news. I would sack the people who made this terrible choice of a 73 year old. We need young blood and new ideas. What a shame.

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Kemal

Sep 22, 2015 09:14pm

Shame on PCB management, PCB lately became a circus or in other words musical chairs game; they 're nothing but old dudes can't find in the whole wideworld someone dynamic to be a new manger!! its an irony that PCB is somewhat comfortable with the old system.

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