AFTER the unceremonious ouster of Jeff Lawson, the Pakistan Cricket Board has appointed Intikhab Alam as the national coach of the Pakistan cricket team.
Immediately after his appointment, Intikhab Alam has lost no time in making it clear that his first priority would be to maintain discipline in the team.
Intikhab Alam had been a manager-cum-coach of the Pakistan cricket team more than once in the past too.
However, he mainly served as manager or coach when Imran Khan was the captain of the cricket team.
In fact, at that time the presence of Imran Khan as a captain made the task of Intikhab Alam quite easier and he prospered under his shadow.
Once Imran Khan bowed out after winning the World Cup for Pakistan in 1992, the abilities of Intikhab Alam as manager-cum-coach were fully exposed and he was found glaringly wanting in maintaining discipline in the team.
It was in his tenure as manager-cum-coach in 1994 when the then captain, Saleem Malik, was accused by Australian players that they were offered bribe by the Pakistani captain if they under-performed in the one-day internationals.
Later on, a judicial inquiry found Saleem Malik guilty and it imposed life ban on his cricketing career.
So, with the benefit of hindsight, one can say that being a weak administrator, Intikhab Alam is not going to deliver or bring about a noticeable change in the overall performance of the Pakistan cricket team.
Rather one is afraid that things might go from bad to worse.
Yes, give him a captain as strong and effective as Imran Khan and he will catch the windfall with both hands.
RAFAT MAHMOOD ANSARI
Islamabad
(II)
I WAS dismayed over the way the Pakistan cricket team`s head couch Jeff Lawson was sacked.
Why did he have to hear this news on TV? After all, how hard is it to pick up the phone and deliver the news first-hand in a professional manner?
Unlike, Mr Butt, Mr Lawson showed a lot of character when he termed his experience in Pakistan as `wonderful` with no sign of bitterness.
When will we ditch the subcontinent mentality and start doing things as they do in the civilised world?
ABDUL HADI KHAN
United States