Alam backs Pakistan to win Champions Trophy, says momentum is with team

October 10th, 2009 LAHORE - Outgoing Pakistan cricket team manager Yawar Saeed has warned young all-rounder Fawad Alam to change his attitude if he wants to play for Pakistan for a longer period. Saeed said Alam, who has been fined twice in the recent past, is a talented cricketer, but he needed to improve his attitude.

October 8th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Dejected by the match-fixing allegations, Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said he has been deeply hurt by the controversy. Alam said the allegations were so appalling that even former Indian Test captain Bishen Singh Bedi had called him for booting his morale.

October 7th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan Cricket Board has defended captain Younis Khan and coach Intikhab Alam, both whom are receiving flak from different quarters for the defeat against New Zealand in the semi-final match of the ICC Champions Trophy. PCB's media manager Nadeem Sarwar said the team tried hard and did well to reach the semi-final of the coveted eight-nation tournament for the first time and added that reports about the matches being 'fixed' were totally baseless.

October 6th, 2009 ISLAMABAD - Pakistan's National Assembly's Standing Committee on Sports Chairman Jamshed Ahmed Dasti has alleged that Pakistan lost the match against Australia in the ICC Champions Trophy on purpose, The News reports. Dasti has called on captain Younis Khan and coach Intikhab Alam and Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Ijaz Butt to explain the reason for the team's defeat in the elite eight-nation trophy.

October 6th, 2009 LAHORE - Defending captain Younis Khan, Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said that batsmen should be blamed for the defeat against New Zealand in semi-final match of the ICC Champions Trophy. "Batsmen were responsible for the national team's defeat at the hands of New Zealand in the ICC Champions Trophy semi-final and not captain Younis Khan who dropped the catch of Grant Elliot," Alam told media persons at the Allama Iqbal International Airport here.

September 17th, 2009 KARACHI - Former Pakistan all rounder captain Shoaib Malik has described the forthcoming ICC Champions Trophy tougher than the World Cup and said that any of the eight participating teams could win the coveted trophy as there were no favourites. "The Champions Trophy is more competitive than the World Cup and no team is favourite to win the title," Malik told media persons here.

September 17th, 2009 KARACHI - Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said his team can win the ICC Champions Trophy beginning September 22. Talking to reporters at the Karachi International Airport before leaving for South Africa, Alam said the Pakistan team has only one aim and that is to win the prestigious title.

September 16th, 2009 KARACHI - Former Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has declared that his team's Pool A match against old rivals India in the Champions Trophy will be the 'match of the tournament'. Malik told reporters at the National Stadium here Tuesday night that no other game in the elite eight-nation contest will be able to match the intensity of the Pakistan-India clash.

September 2nd, 2009 LAHORE - A controversy seems to be brewing up between Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam and batting advisor Javed Miandad regarding the team's training methods ahead of the ICC Champions Trophy. While Miandad has asked pitch curators to prepare a green track with extra width at the Gaddafi Stadium for the conditioning camp beginning today (Wednesday),Alam wants o see the players practice on all types of pitches during the conditioning camp.

August 30th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan cricket coach Coach Intikhab Alam believes that India and Australia would be the biggest threat to his team in the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in South Africa in September. While refusing to predict Pakistan's prospects in the forthcoming eight nation tournament, Alam said both India and Australia were dangerous one-day teams and Pakistan will have to play really well to compete with them.

August 26th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has backed the selection of fast bowler Mohammad Asif in the 15 member squad for the ICC Champions Trophy saying his presence will add 'fire' to the team's bowling line up. "I think Asif's presence in the team will lend experience and sharpness to the bowling attack especially on the South African pitches where pace bowlers usually have a good time.

August 21st, 2009 LAHORE - The seven member selection committee of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Friday controversially recalled paceman Mohammad Asif and opener Imran Nazir, but omitted all-rounder Abdul Razzaq from their 15-man squad for next month's Champions Trophy in South Africa. Pakistan is placed in Group A of the eight-nation Champions Trophy to be held from September 20 to October 5.

August 20th, 2009 LAHORE - The Pakistan cricket selection committee led by chief selector Iqbal Qasim has decided to get a feedback from coach Intikhab Alam and captain Younis Khan before selecting the 15-man squad for the ICC Champions Trophy scheduled to be held in South Africa in September. According to sources, Qasim has decided to consult both Alam and Younis Khan before picking the team for the mega event.

June 25th, 2009 KARACHI - Joyous by his team's brilliant performance to win the ICC World Twenty20 Championship, Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has expressed the hope that the win would propel Pakistan on the international stage, and mark the start of a new era in the game's history in the country. Alam said the win has helped Pakistan regain the lost glory, and proved to be a shot in the arm for Pakistan cricket.

June 24th, 2009 LAHORE - Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has attributed his team's title win in the ICC Twenty20 World Championship to team spirit and unity. Talking to media persons just after returning from England, Alam praised all the players for their fine show throughout the tournament, and said that the win would help change the country's image in the world.