Eight months later, Intikhab has returned to Pakistan's squad, this time as the manager for the upcoming 'home' series against South Africa in the United Arab Emirates.

"It's not an easy job anymore," Intikhab told Arab News on Thursday referring to the fact that a 'spot fixing scandal involving three leading Pakistan cricketers has added a lot of importance to the role of team manager.

"My job will be to make it sure that everything is okay in the UAE," said Intikhab, who has been serving as Pakistan Cricket Board's Director Game Development after his removal as Pakistan's coach last February. "We will try our best to enhance the image of the Pakistan cricket team." Intikhab said that he has a very good understanding with Pakistan's coach Waqar, who was the national team's bowling consultant during the tour of Australia.

"I know Waqar well, I know Aaqib (Javed) well. I've worked with the working staff before and I have a very good understanding with them." Aaqib, a former Pakistan Test pacer, will be the team's assistant coach.

Intikhab, 68, is one of the most experienced coaches in Pakistan but the former Test captain made it clear that he would completely leave the job of training the players to the coaches.

"It will be the team's coaches, who will take care of the cricketing side. I'll be there as a guiding hand but my main job will be to manage the team and that's it." Intikhab was highly critical of his players when questioned by a PCB committee that was asked to probe into the catastrophic tour of Australia. But he doesn't believe that his frank comments about the players will have any adverse affect on his relations with them.

"The whole thing was blown out of proportion. During the probe, I just questioned the players' cricketing sense. As the team's coach, I think it was my duty to do so." Intikhab believes that Pakistan will have to do their homework to be able to compete against a tough team like South Africa.

"South Afica are a very professional side," he said. "We will have to do our homework and I'm sure that the coach and captain will ensure that." Intikhab hoped that Pakistan will make the most of the fact that they will be playing on familiar territory in the UAE.

"It's our home series so naturally we should enjoy the home advantage.

Dubai and Abu Dhabi are both good venues and we've played there a lot more than other teams in recent times and that should be helpful." Pakistan will open the series against South Africa with a Twenty20 International on October 26 at the Sheikh Zayed Stadium in Abu Dhabi.

They will play another Twenty20 game at the same venue before the five-match ODI series that will be followed by the two Test matches.