Pakistan former cricket captain, coach and team manager Intikhab Alam said on Wednesday that the team is optimistic regarding its chances against the upcoming England series to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) next year. Intikhab, who now works as the Pakistan Cricket Board’s Director of Game Development and its Director of Cricket Operations (International), has been in the UAE this week to check on arrangements ahead of the tour. In a press release issued here, he said: “We are very positive. The way the team has gelled means morale is rocketing high but we have to make sure we keep playing that same way. “England is the number one Test side in the world and so despite our recent successes (against Zimbabwe, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh) they will be different kettle of fish.
“They will be a real test but we have enough talent to beat them.
We have done it in the past and we can do it again.” Intikhab said he expected Pakistan’s bowling would be the team’s strength in the upcoming series that features three Tests, four ODIs and three T20Is, starting with the opening Test at Dubai Sports City which begins on 17 January. “What we have to work on is our fielding and batting against better attacks like England,” he said. “But we are fortunate to have a complete bowling attack with all the spin options – leg-spin, left-arm and off-spin – and we have good fast bowlers as well.”
And Intikhab said the Pakistan players’ familiarity with conditions in the UAE would also work in their favour. “We’ve been playing back-to-back series but the players will have a fortnight’s rest before they come back here to the UAE so they should be in good shape. “The team is used to playing here in the UAE with matches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and also Sharjah so we should have an advantage in that respect.” Intikhab checked out the facilities at Dubai Sports City and was impressed by what he saw. “I wanted to check out the facilities at the (ICC) Global Cricket Academy,” he said. “I think it’s all very good and they have got all the necessary equipment, including different types of pitches,” he said. “There’s the ProBatter simulator, where you can face any bowler you want. It makes sense and it’s very good as it gives you the same atmosphere as you get facing that bowler for real. And there’s a spin bowling machine – that’s very interesting too. “The facilities are top class (at the ICC Global Cricket Academy). They’ve worked very hard, provided all the facilities and you can’t complain about anything,” he added.
