Pak team “must improve in fielding and fitness”: Intikhab

KARACHI - Fielding and physical fitness are the key areas that Pakistan cricket team needs to be improve upon, team manager Intikhab Alam has said.

“What we witnessed during the last series against South Africa was not up to par…we would like to focus on those areas,” the Dawn quoted Intikhab, as saying to a news agency.

He, however, described the series against the Proteas as a great success.

“It was very heartening that the Pakistan team put up a fighting show against a formidable South African which is placed second in the ICC Test rankings. Overall it was an impressive show by the boys,” Intikhab said.

Meanwhile, the national cricket team’s training camp started on December 8 at Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore, in preparation for the upcoming tour of New Zealand.

Pakistan learnt lessons from the fitness problems of Mohammad Yousuf and Wahab Riaz in the UAE during the South Africa series, which had left the Pakistan team considerably weaker, said Intikhab, adding that coach Waqar Younis and the rest of the staff was working hard on these areas.

“We did well in batting and bowling departments against South Africa but must improve in fielding and fitness,” he said. “We have to make these the bench mark.”

Commenting on the New Zealand pitches, he dispelled the impressions that they will be bouncy.

“There will be seam and swing on New Zealand pitches,” said Intikhab, mindful of the fact that this could pose a threat for Pakistan’s batsmen.

Left arm spinner Abdur Rehman had put up a good show against South Africa, and he will lead the spin attack in New Zealand, said the team manager.

However, off-spinner Saeed Ajmal was not very successful in the UAE, and it will be a good opportunity for him to prove his worth in New Zealand, he added. (ANI)