Pakistan's cricket team is in good shape, says Intikhab Alam
26
Pakistan's cricket team manager, Intikhab Alam, said on Thursday the team is in good shape ahead of the four-Test series against England, slated to start in July.
"The ongoing camp is a golden chance for the team to get used to the English conditions," said Alam, while speaking to DawnNews from Hampshire.
Pakistan are currently playing a 3-day practice match to acclimatise to the alien conditions.
Alam seemed content with the batsmen's display during the game.
"Hafeez has shown good form and scored 85 runs. Misbah-ul-Haq and Younis Khan have also had a good time at the crease," the 74-year-old told over the phone.
The first and second days of the practice game started with a delay due to rain.
The former Test captain added the gym training will continue despite the weather-related delay in the game. "This 10-day long camp is going to help all the players."
Speaking about Mohammad Amir, Alam stated the left-arm fast-bowler is keen to perform on his Test return tour.
Pakistan team will depart to Taunton on June 29 to play a proper practice game against the English county side, Somerset.
The national side tour officially kicks off on July 14.
Pakistan will face-off England in four Tests, five One-Day Internationals, and a Twenty20 International.
Read more
On DawnNews
Comments (26) Closed
Jun 23, 2016 05:43pm
Intekhab alam is just looking at his own bank balance , then making comment that Pakistan cricket team is in good shape.
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 05:54pm
Mr. Intikhab Alam, Due respect to you Sir! Please accept the reality.
Our team is not in good shape. Our batting is highly unreliable. Playing side matches in England as opposed to facing them in a test match is a different ball game. We lack the temperament to sustain pressure.
Scoring big on UAE's flat wickets does not prepare our batsmen to successfully face English bowlers.
Plus our first class cricket structure needs a complete overhaul inclusive of playing on sporting wickets. It'll be a miracle if we defeat England in their home conditions..
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 06:17pm
Until people like you are not replaced ... nothing can improve....u are with PCB for ages...for Gods sake how much more u want
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 06:18pm
Sir I Alam
Thank you very much for your statement. All the cricket playing nations knows the capabilities of pak team. unless PCB select the team on Merit.
Good Luck to Team Pak !!!
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 06:24pm
@JM
Though I agree with you mostly, however, under the current ICC rules where all the teams have to agree to bilateral tours and Pakistan playing after 6 years in England, this is the best the team can do.
By the way sir, I had the personal privilege to play with the team in the current camp and I can report the team is in very good shape, though they need to hold their nerve in England.
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 06:32pm
Really disappointed with for selecting likes Iftikhar Ahmad and Shaan Masood over Babar Azam, Ahmad Shahzad and Umar Akmal. This will result in test series loss which was our only hope. Thank you destabilising test team too.
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 06:37pm
Yes sir, we know that. it's always in good shape before the tournament....
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 06:44pm
@Syed Abbas
I think it is a great move.....Look at England.......Kevin Peterson was a nuisance and the highest ODI scorer yet they got rid of him and England who lost to even Bangladesh nearly one the T20 World cup in 2016......what a change? .......Umar Akmal, Shehzad......these guys have been in the team for longer than I can remember and never behave according to the team management instructions.......the team selectors and management need to stick to the their decision and give these new players who proved themselves in PSL and domestic leagues as king as they gave to Umar Akmal and Ahmed Shehzad
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 06:53pm
Except that the shape is more roundish.
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 06:56pm
Mr Intekhab Alam is in 74 years of age and in mood to leave the job for someone who is young and dynamic. He was the manager of 1992 world cup team and keep on coming back as Manager of the team. He should be retired by any standards!
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 06:58pm
T20 ranking.....7th
ODI ranking.....9th
Test ranking.....3rd
How is this in any meaning or form supposed to be "good shape" ?????
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 07:03pm
Stick to your statement until tour finish, Don't mince your words later
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 07:17pm
Intikhab Alam needs to be retired. We need aggressive tacticians in the team, not a lazy and unfit manager who is milking his WC achievement under Imran Khan back in 1992.
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 07:26pm
Intikhab alam has been connected with Pakistan cricket for a long time.
When will he retire.
Every time there is a scandal he is in the middle of it casting blame on everyone but himself. He is over 80 years old.
Please Intikhab have mercy on Pakistan cricket and retire.
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 08:29pm
I have been seeing and hearing the same thing since I was in high school and that was real long time ago. Please leave
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 09:14pm
Famous last words?
Recommend
0
Jun 23, 2016 11:40pm
I wish Pakistan would learn from India. There previous coach was Ravi Shastri and the new one is Anil Kumble. Their selection committee consisted of Tendulkar, Gavaskar and Laxman.
In Pakistan, the politics are pushed into every aspect of life.
Intikhab Alam really does not belong in the team. Younger professionals have to be given such tasks. He really should let it go.
Recommend
0
Jun 24, 2016 01:31am
@Ali not Gavaskar but Ganguly.
Recommend
0
Jun 24, 2016 01:33am
Hafeez is ready to shatter another youngster dream I don't care how well he bat in side matches I won't be surprise if he fails miserably in test against England. I hope new coach will do the justice with youngsters.
Recommend
0
Jun 24, 2016 01:33am
If someone takes a look at Mr. Alam, they will understand why he will call anybody in good shape, compared to his...
Recommend
0
Jun 24, 2016 02:08am
May be Pakistan should choose a player from other teams and put Pak players for a fitness test against the chosen player.. it will give pretty good idea how good shape they really are in..
Recommend
0
Jun 24, 2016 02:19am
@Ali if he let's it go, what other job can he find at his age, he will try to hold on to his current job till his last breath.
Recommend
0
Jun 24, 2016 03:11am
Our team is in the worst shape loser so stop pretending they're excellent.
Recommend
0
Jun 24, 2016 04:45am
Pakistan cricket board should go to hell
Recommend
0
Jun 24, 2016 06:31am
Is it? Well may be but you certainly are not fit to Manage the affairs of team. Take rest and handover the affairs of team to someone younger before it's too late ..we are not in nineteen sixties anymore and the game has evolved a lot! But why would you do that ... You may know nothing about management but you certainly know how to remain 'in'
Recommend
0
Jun 24, 2016 08:17am
Team has always been in good shape. The cricket they play is in a bad shape.
Recommend
0
