• Home
• /
• Cricket

Team morale high: Alam

Embattled Pakistan undertake a month-long tour in the UAE where they play South Africa in a full series of Twenty20, One-Day Internationals and Tests. The series, titled ‘Bank Al Falah presents Cool & Cool Cup,’ features two Twenty20 Internationals, five One-Day Internationals and two Test matches.

Pakistan are under the scanner after three of their players — Salman Butt, Mohammad Asif and Mohammad Amir are alleged to have been involved in the spot-fixing scandal during their tour of England.

But Alam said that the players have been told not to bring a bad name to the country.

The team had reported to Alam at the National Cricket Academy, where he briefed the squad about the Pakistan Cricket Board’s (PCB) new code of conduct.

“I have briefed the players accordingly. I told them about what the PCB and the country expects. They are always well behaved. It is not that they are not well behaved. But things happen in the heat of the moment. They know what needs to be done. They have been briefed that they have to maintain discipline and follow the rules. They have been told not to bring a bad name to the country. That is what has been exactly been told to them,” Alam said on the sidelines of Pakistan’s first training session under lights at the Shaikh Zayed International Cricket Stadium on Sunday.

The team arrived from Lahore in the early hours of Saturday morning.

The 68-year-old said that the series was a build up to their preparations for the World Cup to be held in the subcontinent. “This series is a build up to our preparations for the World Cup. We go to New Zealand after this series. We have to get the right combination going during these two series because there won’t be room for experiments after that,” said Alam.

Alam reckoned it will be a tough series for Pakistan but said that his players know the conditions here having played here before. “It is always tough against a top team like South Africa. We are playing at a neutral venue as well. We played Australia, New Zealand and West Indies here and the conditions are brilliant here in Abu Dhabi and in Dubai. The players have an idea about the conditions,” he said.

Alam said the squad was a blend of youth and experience and added that batsman Umar Akmal, left-arm quick Wahad Riaz and wicket-keeper Zulqarnain Haider were exciting prospects.

“Umar Akmal is an exciting player but he needs to discipline his cricketing ability. But that will come with time. Left-arm pacer (Wahab) Riaz is another exciting prospect and we expect great things from him. The squad is a blend of youth and experience,” said Alam, who was coach and manager of the 1992 World Cup-winning Pakistan team.

Alam said that Younis Khan’s return to the fold was good news and added that he will bring the much-needed stability in the batting. Alam said that Younis will feature in the ODI and Test segments and not the Twenty20.

“Younis Khan is in the ODI and Test squad. He is very professional and disciplined and we expect a lot from him. He brings stability to the batting. Also, I’m sure, he also has a point to prove,” he said.

About Mohammed Yousuf, who is nursing an injury sustained to his right leg, Alam said that the veteran batsman could feature in the two Tests to be held in Dubai and Abu Dhabi. “Mohammed Yousuf has a Grade 2 tear of the muscle and is out for a couple of weeks. He will be available for the Tests provided he proves his fitness,” said Alam.

Alam, who took over as manager from Yawar Saeed after the controversial England tour, said that the manager’s role was not new to him and added that he was looking forward to the challenge. “I’ve done it before. Earlier, we used to have only cricket managers who used to do both — coach and manage the team. Pakistan was the first country to start this concept before the other countries picked it up.

This is a great challenge for me and I’m looking forward to it,” he said and added: “There will be pressure. It depends on how you handle it. You need to be positive, calm and collected because it is a demanding job. I’ve accepted it as a challenge.”

james@khaleejtimes.com