@ Our boys lack cricketing sense: Intikhab..........

KARACHI: Coach Intikhab Alam on Sunday stated that the Pakistan players
lacked "cricketing sense," and added that was the main difference between
them and Australia.

"I think the boys have no cricketing sense at all, which affected the
team's performance every time we faced the skilled and stubborn
Australians," he said.

Pakistan's team, minus captain Wasim Akram, returned home on Saturday night
after being annihilated 2-0 in the best-of-three finals of a tri-series
with Australia and India in Australia.
Pakistan are now due to take on Sri Lanka in three one-dayers and as many
Tests. The first One-day International will be played in Karachi on
February 13.

"It's time we develop a cricket academy where besides harnessing the talent
the players should be made mentally strong and develop their cricketing
sense," he said. "Look at players like Abdur Razzaq. He is so talented and
can be compared to any top Australian allrounder but he needs to develop
other aspects of the game."

Wasim, who is due to return home in next few days, on Saturday stressed the
need for proper planning for the tours to Australia in future. Intikhab
agreed. "It's also time we improve the quality of our pitches. The Pakistan
and Indian batsmen struggled because they are used to playing on docile
tracks."

Pakistan and India were both blanked 3-0 in the Test series preceding the
tri-nation tournament. Pakistan won four out of their 10 one-day games.
India could win only one of their eight league encounters.

"At the moment, Australia are the best side in the world simply because
they are physically fit," said the coach. "I agree there is a gulf between
Australia and us, but talent-wise we match them."

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Ad hoc Committee Chairman General Tauqir Zia
reacted sharply to Pakistan's dismal performance in the finals, saying he
would replace players if they did not give their 100 per cent.

But Intikhab said: "I would suggest against making wholesale changes. Wasim
still commands respect and has a lot of cricket left in him."

"Our top-order batting flopped simply because they did not follow
instructions of occupying the crease," he said.

Intikhab, retained for the series against Sri Lanka, defended his position.
"I have spent only four weeks with the team and I need time to improve the
overall standard of the players. Nothing succeeds like success. When we won
the first two games everybody was praising the team and my abilities, but
losses change things drastically."