KARACHI: Coach Intikhab Alam believes new captain Younis Khan has the ability to unite an under-performing Pakistan team behind him after taking over from Shoaib Malik following an embarrassing ODI defeat against Sri Lanka last week.
Throwing his weight behind Younis, Intikhab said that the senior batsman is proactive and enjoys a great rapport with his peers — qualities that the coach hopes will make him a successful captain.
"Younis has a great understanding with fellow players," Intikhab told Arab News in an interview on Wednesday. "He is proactive, confident, committed and is always willing to chip in whenever needed," added Intikhab, a former Pakistan captain.
The 31-year-old Younis was named Pakistan captain for an indefinite period on Tuesday. He replaced Malik just a few days after the all-rounder led Pakistan to a humiliating 234-run defeat against Sri Lanka in their one-day series decider in Lahore.
Intikhab made it clear that there were no ill-feelings against Malik in the Pakistan camp.
"I believe Malik is a very fine cricketer," said Intikhab, who had emphatically supported Malik's captaincy after taking over as Pakistan coach last November.
"I'm not taking on u-turn on my previous comments," said Intikhab. "But all of us had noticed that Malik had a few shortcomings as captain, especially during the last two games of the series against Sri Lanka. He displayed a lack of man-management skills and that was a big flaw."
With Younis as captain, Pakistan are now looking to avenge their 1-2 defeat in the ODI series against Sri Lanka by defeating them in the Test series that is scheduled to begin in Karachi from January 22.
Intikhab was confident that Pakistan will be able to bounce back in the Tests.
"It is very important for us to do well in the Tests and I'm confident that Younis will be able to bring the best out of his players," he said.
Intikhab said that the team management and the national selectors intend to watch the performance of 25 odd players in a couple of five-day trial matches that will precede the Test series next month. He said that the idea is to give ample opportunity to all leading players as well as in-form youngsters from the domestic circuit before picking the Test squad. Intikhab said that seniors like under-performing fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar will find themselves under the magnifying glass during the trial matches to be played in Lahore and Karachi — the venues for the two Tests.
"We will check out all the fast bowlers, spinners and openers available," he said. "Also under close inspection will be wicket-keepers." Pakistan captain Younis Khan, however, is likely to miss at least one of the trials matches as he is looking forward to a week-long break ahead of the Test series.
Intikhab said that he has no objections adding that the team management wants top players to get as much rest as possible. "Leading players who have been playing continuously can miss the matches because they might get burnout," he said
