Interview with Inti Alam: "Afridi, like Imran, inspires men"

[The_Real_Deal]

"Afridi, like Imran, inspires men"

Intikhab Alam, coach of Pakistan’s 1992 WC winning squad and manager of the current side, sees a lot in common between Afridi and Imran Khan.

Intikhab was Pakistan's first ODI captain and his contribution to cricket in the country is still part of folklore. He was coach of the sensational 1992 squad, which won the ICC Cricket World Cup in Australia and his stature in Pakistan's cricketing circles has only grown ever since. As manager of the current team, the 70-year old legend continues to share his experience with a group of talented but mercurial players.

Dogged by some controversies in the past, Pakistan seem to be a rejuvenated lot and look well on course for a place in the quarter-finals of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2011.

ESPNSTAR.com spoke with Intikhab at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy, as the former all-rounder kept a watchful eye on his wards, who were training hard ahead of their clash against New Zealand.

Rajarshi Gupta: You were manager of the 1992 ICC CWC winning squad and manager now. Nineteen years later, you are managing another Pakistan side in the ICC CWC. How do you compare the two teams?

Intikhab Alam: Fact of the matter is you can't compare the 1992 WC winning side with the present one. Things have changed. It was a different team altogether. We had world-class players in that side like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus - all super-stars. There are no super-stars in the current team, apart from one or two, which helps. Before we came here, people never rated us. They had different takes on the players but we were very strong from inside and we had worked very hard physically. The energy level in the field has gone up, which is very important in the last 10 or 15 overs. If your energy level doesn't drop, you win most of your matches. Shahid Afridi has done a fantastic job as captain. Everybody likes him, he is very positive and he leads from the front. The most important aspect is that when the captain is performing, then it's a different ball-game. You become even stronger if you are performing well. He gives very positive signals to the players and they look up to him. We have enough ability in the side and we play to our full potential, we are a dangerous team and can beat any side in the world.

RG: This Pakistan side appears to be well-balanced. Your expectations of the side must be soaring.

IA: I personally feel, looking at the other sides, we have a very different team. We have four different spinners, which no other side has. We have a leg-spinner (Afridi), a left-arm spinner (Abdur Rehman) and an off-spinner (Saeed Ajmal), who can bowl the doosra and we have another spinner in Mohammad Hafeez, who is a batting all-rounder. We have a good pace-attack and a power-house in the middle-order - Afridi, Umar Akmal and Abdul Razzaq. If we get a good launching pad, they can score runs very quickly against any attack. So far, I am happy we are working together and the dressing room is very happy, very congenial. Peaking at the right time is, of course, important.

RG: You may not be able to compare sides but from the way Afridi leads the side, does he remind you of Imran Khan in 1992?

IA: They are two different personalities. I am very happy with Afridi at the helm - he listens to the management, which is a very good thing. The coach (Waqar Younis), myself and the captain - we all sit together and decide things and that is very good. It's not a one-man show. We take each other's consensus and we take decisions on merit. Imran did that too. We always talked about strategies. He didn't take decisions of his own. Both Afridi and Imran inspired their men and that is the most important similarity between the two.

RG: You are known to be a strict disciplinarian but it must be a challenge managing a mercurial side like Pakistan.

IA: I personally feel the management has a back-room job and make sure things are alright. I have seen in my experience of 50 years, as a player, as a captain and in the management that if your communication with seniors and juniors is good, you will not get into any problem. The only time you get into trouble is if your communication is not right. If we drop someone, we tell them why or if a player is going through problems, I sit with him and talk to him like my own son. We don't try to give favours to seniors. Everyone knows what's happening and no one is kept in the dark. That is very important. You have to set an example - if there is a curfew, then everybody has to observe it.

RG: Would you say this is the most disciplined Pakistan side you have seen in years?

IA: It is. You have to say that. For the past eight months, we have been through some very difficult times and mentally we have become very strong. The controversies in the past and have actually helped us become strong. Once you become mentally tough, you can go through any situation. Touch-wood, things have been going well and we will be peaking at the right time - it happened in 1992 also - the team peaked at the right time. Once you start believing in yourself, that is the turning point.

RG: Despite a clean slate, there are still some problems with the side on the field. Are you worried?

IA: Yes, but at the same time, we are still winning. We always discuss things very minutely and we don't let anything slip and everyone has been reminded about this. I am sure when it really matters, we will come good, God willing. We have told them to focus on their game and give their 100% on the field and be sincere to their team and yes, it is working.

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By: Rajarshi Gupta in Kandy
Source: Here

[Afridi_Fan]

That was a bit OTT I guess, but hey. I'm not complaining one bit.

[The_Real_Deal]

one great change we can see today compared to say 8-12 months ago is the discipline in the team, esp in the ODI outfit.

there's more fight in the team and they do play for each other... great signs.

[Poison]

Afridi doesn't lead men, he leads lions

[ace4rmspace]

Afridi seems to attract men too, as is evident by the behaviour of some members of this esteemed forum ...

[aashiqdar]

Originally Posted by Poison Afridi doesn't lead men, he leads lions

Ya but there are only 10 Lions. Bcoz Hafeez is not like that.

[The_Real_Deal]

"...we are a dangerous team and can beat any side in the world."

its that word again!!

[Poison]

And one certain S. Davies ...

[Vegitto1]

Originally Posted by The_Real_Deal Rajarshi Gupta: You were manager of the 1992 ICC CWC winning squad and manager now. Nineteen years later, you are managing another Pakistan side in the ICC CWC. How do you compare the two teams? Intikhab Alam: Fact of the matter is you can't compare the 1992 WC winning side with the present one. Things have changed. It was a different team altogether. We had world-class players in that side like Imran Khan, Javed Miandad, Wasim Akram, Waqar Younus - all super-stars. There are no super-stars in the current team, apart from one or two, which helps. Before we came here, people never rated us. They had different takes on the players but we were very strong from inside and we had worked very hard physically. The energy level in the field has gone up, which is very important in the last 10 or 15 overs. If your energy level doesn't drop, you win most of your matches. Shahid Afridi has done a fantastic job as captain. Everybody likes him, he is very positive and he leads from the front. The most important aspect is that when the captain is performing, then it's a different ball-game. You become even stronger if you are performing well. He gives very positive signals to the players and they look up to him. We have enough ability in the side and we play to our full potential, we are a dangerous team and can beat any side in the world. ----------------------------------------------------------------------------- By: Rajarshi Gupta in Kandy Source: Here

Does he even remember the 1992 worldcup or was he too busy eating biryani

[ace4rmspace]

Originally Posted by Poison And one certain S. Davies ...

You should get slated for that Mr P ...

[The_Real_Deal]

Originally Posted by Vegitto1 Does he even remember the 1992 worldcup or was he too busy eating biryani

he was the team manager then too.

but there cant be a comparison between the two teams. waqar, wasim, imran and javed, were legends back then, here we have a few, different team altogether.

[SIMBA]

Originally Posted by The_Real_Deal he was the team manager then too. but there cant be a comparison between the two teams. waqar, wasim, imran and javed, were legends back then, here we have a few, different team altogether.

Oh dear...facepalm

Waqar had an injury in 1992 that ruled him out the wc.

[Afridi_Fan]

Originally Posted by ace4rmspace Afridi seems to attract men too, as is evident by the behaviour of some members of this esteemed forum ...

You are just jealous. Use this, it might help.

[cricket_fever]

Originally Posted by Afridi_Fan You are just jealous. Use this, it might help.

lol! good one AF!!

i have said this before and i will say it again : Afridi's pakistan will better Imran's pakistan

[The_Real_Deal]

Originally Posted by Haroom Oh dear...facepalm Waqar had an injury in 1992 that ruled him out the wc.

ok he didn't participate, but we still had wasim, imran, javed, there was a good spinner in mushy there too..

overall the '92 team was far batter then this w/c team we have in '11...

[ace4rmspace]

@AF I have a full head of hair and am happily married thank you.

I do admit though, the man does inspire with his moments of brilliance. I believe he has instilled a flavour to this current team which without him would have been missing, good or bad. I don't care if this team is nothing like the team in '92 and it doesn't mean anything if they don't share any attributes except for the one that matters, bringing it home!

[zainkhan]

manager from 1992 , Must have a big experience.Good Luck Pakistan for tomorrow match I will be watching this one.

[bobwoolmersarmy]

Touch-wood, things have been going well and we will be peaking at the right time - it happened in 1992 also


touching wood aint gonna do a thing .........

mans a fool

[Ryankhan]

Inshallah LALA will be like IMRAN KHAN and raising that trophy

[attock]

INSHALLAH Shahid Khan Afridi will follow the foot steps of Imran Khan and bring home the trophy......I have always believed in the captaincy abilities of Afridi and always will.......

[hasanmehmoodkhan]

i think inti deserves some credit for the discipline in the team

[SAF]

"inspires men"

sounds very wrong and disturbing at the same time

[asad100101]

For the first time i am liking this Pakistani team. In the past era there were rifts among players. no harmony.

Akhtar is also not issuing big statements in the media which is great.

Both captain and vice captain are performing well together which is a good omen.

[PakPrince]

Ther is no doubt about the fact that Afridi has united a team.
Everyone wants to win and even if they do not perform they are trying their best to make Pakistan win. No one has any hidden agenda or are part of cliques or groups.

And eventhough Malik, Butt and Asif's absence has definitely weakened the team but what it has made sure is that Afridi is King for this team and has the respect of everyone. And thankfully there is minimal junior-senior bakwaas

[Fireworks11]

It certainly shows in the field. A great influence.

[Prince_Pathan]

well...naturally