Intikhab Alam was in for a rude shock when the voice recorder of his mobile phone in New Zealand attributed him to be an Indian.
The Pakistani media and others were stunned when they called Intikhab in New Zealand after the voice recorder of his phone kept on saying that the manager of the Indian team was not available at the moment and will try to return the call later.
Irked by the mistake, the Pakistan team management had to remind the host board -- New Zealand Cricket -- that Intikhab was not an Indian after the former Test captain had to bear the brunt of jokes because of the goof up.
"The telephone numbers are provided by the host country's board, which in this case is New Zealand Cricket and they are also responsible for providing all other details of the squad to relevant departments from which the touring side require services," a source in the Pakistan Cricket Board said.
"In Intihkab's case the telephone company was mistakenly informed that he is manager of the Indian team," he added.
Pakistan is presently touring New Zealand for three Twenty20 Internationals, two Tests and six ODIs.
Irked by the mistake, the Pakistan team management had to remind the host board -- New Zealand Cricket -- that Intikhab was not an Indian after the former Test captain had to bear the brunt of jokes because of the goof up.
"The telephone numbers are provided by the host country's board, which in this case is New Zealand Cricket and they are also responsible for providing all other details of the squad to relevant departments from which the touring side require services," a source in the Pakistan Cricket Board said.
"In Intihkab's case the telephone company was mistakenly informed that he is manager of the Indian team," he added.
Pakistan is presently touring New Zealand for three Twenty20 Internationals, two Tests and six ODIs.
Pakistan will bounce back in T20 series: Intikhab
Team manager Intikhab Alam on Monday conceded that Pakistan is facing difficulty in adjusting to the conditions in New Zealand but said the side will bounce back in the remaining two matches of the Twenty20 international series.
Pakistan were beaten by five wickets in the first match by New Zealand yesterday and also suffered the humiliation of being bowled out for just 91 runs in a T20 side match against Auckland last Friday.
"This team has the ability to bounce back in the series.
Although there is no doubt the players are facing problems adjusting to the different conditions in New Zealand," the former test captain told Geo Super channel.
Intikhab also said that for players who toured New Zealand for the first time it took time for them to adjust to the different weather and pitch conditions.
"But the coach has told the batsmen to show more application and patience while batting in the remaining matches," he said.
Intikhab said the players also realized how important it was for the team to have a successful tour of New Zealand as it was their final international outing before the 2011 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The Pakistan manager also noted that on the smaller boundaries in New Zealand touring teams had to score atleast 175 runs in the T20 format of the game to nullify the advantage of the hosts.
"We are confident that the team will comeback strongly in the series because despite all the problems Pakistan cricket has faced in recent months the players have been told to just focus on their cricket," he said.
Intikhab said that there were no disciplinary issues in the team as the management had made it clear to everyone that their would be no compromise on discipline.
"The senior players who have been to New Zealand before also realise that they need to show the way to the younger players and help them adjust to the conditions," he added.
Intikhab was coach of the Pakistan team that toured New Zealand last year for a "home series" and drew the Test series.
Team manager Intikhab Alam on Monday conceded that Pakistan is facing difficulty in adjusting to the conditions in New Zealand but said the side will bounce back in the remaining two matches of the Twenty20 international series.
Pakistan were beaten by five wickets in the first match by New Zealand yesterday and also suffered the humiliation of being bowled out for just 91 runs in a T20 side match against Auckland last Friday.
"This team has the ability to bounce back in the series.
Although there is no doubt the players are facing problems adjusting to the different conditions in New Zealand," the former test captain told Geo Super channel.
Intikhab also said that for players who toured New Zealand for the first time it took time for them to adjust to the different weather and pitch conditions.
"But the coach has told the batsmen to show more application and patience while batting in the remaining matches," he said.
Intikhab said the players also realized how important it was for the team to have a successful tour of New Zealand as it was their final international outing before the 2011 World Cup in India, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
The Pakistan manager also noted that on the smaller boundaries in New Zealand touring teams had to score atleast 175 runs in the T20 format of the game to nullify the advantage of the hosts.
"We are confident that the team will comeback strongly in the series because despite all the problems Pakistan cricket has faced in recent months the players have been told to just focus on their cricket," he said.
Intikhab said that there were no disciplinary issues in the team as the management had made it clear to everyone that their would be no compromise on discipline.
"The senior players who have been to New Zealand before also realise that they need to show the way to the younger players and help them adjust to the conditions," he added.
Intikhab was coach of the Pakistan team that toured New Zealand last year for a "home series" and drew the Test series.
