India is the epicentre of cricket: Greg Chappell

Greg Chappell, now 60, avoided giving one-on-ones during his four-week stay in India as assistant coach of the Ricky Ponting-led squad. Before leaving for home, though, the former Team India coach (and one-time Australia captain) spoke to The Telegraph from his New Delhi hotel.

There were, of course, a couple of pre-conditions from the recently-appointed head coach at Cricket Australia’s Centre of Excellence in Brisbane: No questions on individuals and on the ongoing India-Australia series. Basically, the interview had to be on his new role.

The following are excerpts

Q When do you actually start work as the Centre of Excellence’s head coach?

A Being in India for the first two Tests was part of the job... Part of my role is to understand, from time to time, the requirements of the national coach (Tim Nielsen) and the national team... Some planning has commenced for next year’s programme at the Centre of Excellence... The programme there runs from April to September.

Have you moved from Sydney to Brisbane?

No... It will be at some point next year, we’re working on that.

What made you take up this job?

It’s a challenge... Cricket in Australia is going through a rebuilding phase... Some stalwarts have retired, some others are probably close to the end of their careers... It’s an interesting period and I’ve got the opportunity to work with the next generation. It’s an exciting prospect too.

Having coached a national team (India), what adjustments will you be making in your new role?

Look, the emphasis may be slightly different, but the basics won’t change. Indeed, as with the India job or when I coached South Australia, I’m looking to add value. That’s why I’m there.

How many coaches will be working under you?

Quite a few... Also, a sports scientist and staff to look after the cricketers’ fitness.

The number of cricketers...

The core group will be 15, but at different times, there will be specialist camps for spinners or wicketkeepers or... The age group will be 19 and above... Those who form part of the core group could keep returning to the Centre of Excellence for top-up sessions.

Will the Pontings be using the facility?

Definitely... For pre-season and/or pre-tour camps... Also, we at the Centre of Excellence will be working closely with the national team whenever there’s a Test match in Brisbane, usually the first of the season. (After a pause) Such interaction will help the coaches understand the national team’s requirements better and will be a good learning experience.

Anything from your nearly two years with Team India that will come in handy?

Absolutely... That period was an invaluable experience in my development as a person and as a coach.

Will you, off and on, be travelling with the national team?

It’s possible, though not cast in stone.

Without going into specifics, how do you look back on the four weeks you spent with the Pontings in India?

Again, an invaluable experience... I got a close feel of Tim’s requirements, the requirements of the team... The chief selector, Andrew Hilditch, was also around... One could assess the cricketers better.

[Hilditch too has gone back and Merv Hughes is his replacement.]

The impression is that Australia’s bench strength isn’t all that hot...

Time will tell... And, to be honest, I don’t know everything about Australia’s bench strength... I’ll be having a better view, over the next four-five months, once I travel around the country and watch the first-class matches.

Anything about India that you missed and were happy to catch up with?

Look, I’ve enjoyed all my visits to India and enjoyed a majority of my experiences... My graph is a succession of experiences, really, most of them quite good... India, clearly, is the epicentre of cricket and the IPL has changed the sport’s landscape... The Twenty20 game and the IPL have given a new dimension and coaches will have to review their practices.

The final one: Despite being designated assistant coach, you were actually seen as a Super Coach. Any thoughts on that?

It’s the right of the people to think what they want... I haven’t been focusing on how others perceive my role... Have never done that… I’m just a coach and Tim and I went about our work in a professional way... I only focus on the job I’ve got to do.

Alam named as new Pakistan coach

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) named former captain and manager Intikhab Alam as the new national cricket coach on Saturday, a day after Australian Geoff Lawson was sacked.

Alam will take the helm for Pakistan's upcoming series of three one-day internationals against the West Indies in November in the neutral venue of Abu Dhabi.

"We have appointed Intikhab as the coach as we found him to be the suitable candidate," PCB chairman Ijaz Butt told AFP. "He will accompany the team to Abu Dhabi for the one-day internationals against the West Indies."

The PCB sacked former Australian Test fast bowler Lawson on Friday after a string of poor results. He had spent just 15 months in the job, regarded as one of the toughest in world cricket.

The 66-year-old Alam has also been Pakistan coach and manager on several occasions, most notably during Pakistan's World Cup title win in 1992. Former captain and master batsman Javed Miandad was also a candidate for the post.

Butt said the length of Alam's contract was expected to be decided next week.

"We would like to appoint Alam for a two-year contract, but we have to get final approval from the members of the governing board," said Butt, who took over as chairman earlier this month.

Alam said he would try to do his best for Pakistan.

"It's a big responsibility," Alam told AFP.

"It is not an easy job and I have taken up this assignment as a big challenge," said Alam, who will abandon his contract with Punjab in India, where he was to take over this month.

Alam said discipline would be his top priority for the controversy-hit Pakistan side.

"I will try to maintain discipline because no player is bigger than the game and discipline has been our problem, so that will be my top priority," said Alam, who played 47 Tests between 1959-75 and also led Pakistan in 17 Tests.

As a quality leg-spinner he took 125 wickets, his first coming on his first delivery in Test cricket against Australia in 1959.

PCB sacks Lawson

Pakistan cricket took another twist on Friday when the authorities sacked Geoff Lawson as coach in an effort to improve the team’s sagging fortunes.

The Australian was shown the door over poor results, ending a 15-month tenure during which he fell out with national selectors and some senior players.

The 50-year-old former paceman was Pakistan’s third foreign coach after they hired South African Richard Pybus and former England batsman Bob Woolmer.

Pakistan Cricket Board’s chairman Ijaz Butt said “a foreign coach does not suit us”. “(Bob) Woolmer was a different person and he did his best, but Lawson did not produce any results so we had to make a change,” he said.

Lawson’s appointment was surprising as he was preferred over two other Australian coaches — Dav Whatmore and Richard Dunne — who both had made their marks at international level.

Although Pakistan finished runners-up to India in the Twenty20 World Cup held in South Africa — Lawson’s first assignment with the team — they lost both the one-day and Test series against South Africa and India.

Pakistan won both their home one-day series against weaker opponents Zimbabwe and Bangladesh and then lifted a tri-nation one-day series. But their failure to lift the Twenty20 Cup in Canada earlier this month appears to have been the final straw.

Court lifts life ban on Saleem Malik

A Pakistan court has lifted the life ban imposed on Saleem Malik, the former Pakistan captain, for his involvement in match-fixing. Malik, 45, is now free to involve himself in cricketing activities and he spoke of plans to start a cricket academy.

"I have served cricket for 19 years and today I feel vindicated," Malik said outside a sessions court in Lahore on Thursday. ""I hope that talk of fixing never haunts cricket. Cricket is a pure game and is played by some nice and passionate players."

"Nothing can compensate the last eight years as I had to sever all contacts with cricket. But I am now definitely looking ahead to renewing my links with the game by starting my own cricket academy for youngsters and will soon begin the project."

The Pakistan Cricket Board banned Malik in 2000 after an inquiry commission led by Justice Malik Mohammad Qayyum found him guilty of bribing Australian cricketers Shane Warne and Mark Waugh to lose the 1994-95 Karachi Test.

Warne and Waugh have always strenuously denied accepting money from him. Malik, who maintained his innocence, appealed the next year. After his appeal was rejected, he approached the Supreme Court which, on May 22, 2008, said the appeal should be heard at a lower court.

The case came before civil judge Malik Mohammad Altaf who was originally due to hear it last month but adjourned the hearing as he was unavailable.

The PCB said it would respect the ruling. "We will honour the decision of the sessions court and will not appeal against the ruling," its legal advisor Tafazzul Rizvi told AP. "The PCB did not impose the ban. We just implemented the recommendations of the inquiry tribunal."