Intikhab Alam to return as Pakistan manager

Karachi: The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) on Monday announced the return of 73-year-old Intikhab Alam as the manager of the national cricket team.

Alam was on the edge of losing his post of director domestic cricket after the PCB decided to abolish this designation along with the position of director international cricket.

In 2008, Alam was appointed as Pakistan's coach but was replaced by Waqar Younis immediately after the country's disappointing tour of Australia in 2010.

This will be Alam's fourth managerial stint with the Pakistan team.

Previously, he accompanied the 1992 World Cup winning team as manager-coach, later was made coach in 2000 for a brief period and then had a surprise return in 2008.

The development comes as Naveed Akram Cheema, former manager of the team, stepped down after being appointed chairman of the Federal Public Service Commission by the government.

Talking to Dawn, Cheema confirmed that he had informed PCB chairman Shaharyar Khan about his decision of leaving the said post during a meeting on Friday.

Cheema said it was not possible for him to perform two jobs simultaneously.

"I wish good luck to Pakistan cricket with the hope that it will develop further on a positive note," Cheema stated.