‘There is a lot of bonding among the boys’ – Intikhab Alam on the Pakistan cricket team
http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Pakistan-c755 cricket team manager Intikhab Alam feels the spot-fixing scandal against some of their players has helped the team gel together ahead of the esteemed World Cup event in subcontinent starting from the 19th
of February.
Alam, on Thursday, said that the controversies have actually worked as a catalyst to bring the players together.
"All our players are really fired up," said the former Pakistan captain. "There is a lot of bonding among the boys and they are really backing each other up. There are no ego problems. Each and every player is
trying his best to do his bit for the team."
The 69-year-old has a rich history of achievements with the Pakistan team. He was manager of the Pakistan side that won the 1992 ICC World Cup held in http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Australia-c746 and was the team coach when the green-shirts lifted
the ICC World Twenty20 trophy in 2009 in England.
Alam, famous as the “the burly Intikhab”, said that the team is now showing the same kind of spirit that helped them seal two world titles in the past.
"Team spirit had a lot to do with our title wins in 1992 and 2009," said Alam. "On both those occasions, our boys were completely pumped up and there was a lot of unity. I must say that there is a similar atmosphere
in our dressing room right now and that's a very healthy sign."
The team manager also heaped praise for the triumphant Test captain of Pakistan, http://www.senore.com/Cricket/New-Zealand-c754 which Pakistan won by 1-0.
"The credit goes to Misbah because he has been leading the team from the front," he said. "The players have really responded well. Seniors like Younis Khan are doing a great job."
Misbah’s prolific performance at Hamilton and http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Wellington-c864 earned him the Man-of-the-Series award.
Alam was confident that with the World Cup just four weeks away, the comfortable series win against the Black Caps would serve as a morale booster for the side that was struggling for a return to form since their
full-of-controversies tour of England in August last year.
The other factor that Alam feels has contributed to the revival of the Pakistan team is their fitness. He said that the players are showing a lot of passion towards their fitness.
Pakistan will kick-start their World Cup campaign against http://www.senore.com/Cricket/Sri-Lanka-c758, on 23 February, 2010.
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