Lahore, Jan. 26 : The coach of the Pakistan cricket team, Intikhab Alam has revealed that he is a man on a mission, and his main objective is to get players to talk and to support each other.

''People have the wrong perception about coaching. My job is to lighten the load off their (players) shoulders so they can leave all the baggage behind before they step on the field," the Dawn quoted Alam as saying.

Alam sees his role as that of motivator and not someone who tells a player how to grip a bat.

Karachi, Jan. 16 : As Pakistan prepares to host Sri Lanka in a much needed one-day international series, coach Intikhab Alam has said that his side will offer a tough fight to the islanders, and hoped that it continues the winning streak from where it left in the last series against the West Indies.

Alam said that it was very important for Pakistan to win the home series after it swept the three match series against West Indies, 3-0, in November last year.

"It is also important for us to win the series after having done well against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi," The News quoted Alam, as saying.

He asked the Shoaib Malik led squad to play like a cohesive unit, and ensure that the series is pocketed by the home team.

Karachi, Dec. 14  Pakistan cricket team coach Intikhab Alam has claimed that the atmosphere in the dressing room is improving with the rebuilding of trust among players.

Alam said, "The dressing room atmosphere is getting better already. In Abu Dhabi, the atmosphere was great and, that's a good sign for Pakistan."

Pakistan played a three-match One-day International series against the West Indies in Abu Dhabi which it won 3-0.

Lahore, Nov 25: Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said that India were a better side against Australia, and that it was because India uses the same SG balls in domestic cricket and against touring sides.

Acknowledging India’s splendid success in recent months, including a 2-0 series win at home against Australia, he said that Indian bowlers had mastered the art of using the SG ball effectively in domestic and first-class cricket.

“India have done really well in recent months and they were the better side against Australia. I think one of the reasons for their success is the balls they use in domestic cricket and against touring sides,” the Daily Times quoted him as saying.

Islamabad, Nov 19 : Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has said that Test matches against India should be at a neutral venue in case the Indian government does not clear its cricket team’s tour of Pakistan in January due to security concerns.

“First of all, I think India should come to Pakistan. But if for any reason the tour does not go ahead as planned, I think playing at neutral venue is the best option,” The News quoted Alam as saying.

Karachi, Nov. 9 : Pakistan cricket team coach Intikhab Alam has expressed happiness over the return to form of speedster Shoaib Akhtar ahead of the three-match One-day International series against the West Indies that kicks off in Abu Dhabi from November 12.

Exuding confidence about his side, Alam said Akhtar has regained the sort of speed that once made him the most feared pacer in international cricket, while the rest of the team is also itching to get back into action.