Intikhab Alam gets Pakistan job

Intikhab Alam, the former Pakistan captain, has landed the role of coach on a temporary basis. Intikhab's Test career spanned from 1959-1977, when he averaged a useful 22.3 with the bat and 36 with the ball. However, the first ODI captain of Pakistan (despite only appearing in only four ODIs), will also be fondly remembered in Pakistan for being involved in the 1992 world cup success as Team Manager.

It has been announced by Ijaz Butt that he (Butt) would favour the offering of a two-year contract (so not as temporary an appointment as he has told the media), however, such an offer would need to be ratified first by the PCB. The appointment of Intikhab comes after calls for a local coach to coach the national side from former Pakistan players ever since Butt landed his role as chairman of the board. Ijaz Butt himself said of Lawson, 'I did not say he is useless, but he is of little use to us.' So, as was expected following the announcement of his contract not being renewed and then the sudden dismissal of the former Australian player, a Pakistani has been offered this role. The full terms of the contract, including the length of the contract, will be decided next week. The actual appointment has been shrouded in confusion, with Alam originally being appointed on the short term basis and then claiming a two year contract had been offered. As we have already heard, this is the preferred route of Ijaz Butt. Interestingly, Alam has said that his first task will be 'instilling discipline into his players.'

However, the elevation of a former captain to the highest coaching role in the land raises some rather important questions about the state of the game in Pakistan. Is this really a wise move? Alam, despite his success in the set-up of 1992, has limited coaching experience, having since then only coached Punjab for two seasons in the Ranji Trophy. This cannot be beneficial for the long term development of the game. Maybe it is viable as a short term fix, as we saw with Chandu Borde, but if Alam lands this two year contract, is Pakistan consigning itself to two years of backwards cricket. To a lack of progression? Another question that must be asked is why is the board giving in to pressure from former players and should this be allowed? Javed Miandad has had a huge role in the calls for a new coach of Pakistani origin, unsurprisingly he is not willing to take on this task for the fourth time, but is willing to see another former great ruin his repuation. The board must toughen itself up in the future and run things in a way that is beneficial to the sport, not just to the players that used to grace the field.

At least there is one positive, the excuse of 'we don't win because our foreign coach does not understand the sub-continental game' cannot be used. I am sure that we will see a new captain under this regime, but it remains to be seen how far the 'comeback king' can take this team.