Intikhab takes blame for Australia debacle

Pakistan coach Intikhab Alam has accepted responsibility for his team's poor showing on their tour of Australia, where they were whitewashed in the three Tests, five ODIs and the one-off Twenty20. Intikhab, however, has refused to resign like chief selector Iqbal Qasim did, and is prepared to face an inquiry.

"I will not run away and will face an investigation," Intikhab said after the team's return to Karachi on Sunday morning. "I am not going to comment on any resignation but I will take full responsibility for the defeat."

Pakistan dropped several catches during the tour and let go of a great opportunity to win the second Test in Sydney, where they collapsed chasing 175. The Pakistan board appointed a six-member committee to investigate the defeat. This was Pakistan's fourth-successive Test series whitewash to Australia.

"It was a disappointing tour but if you look into the history, Pakistan has never performed well on a tour of Australia," Intikhab said. "Our fielding was very poor and the batsmen lacked determination and their shot selection was bad. I will give a detailed report on team's performance on the tour and hope a fair analysis is done."

He also denied rumours of a rift in the team and asked the fans to be patient and not jump to conclusions.

"Talk of grouping is baseless. Such things come when the team loses.Australia is still the best team in the world and they played well. Australia lost a home Test series against South Africa, were defeated in Tests in India and handed Ashes to England in the last two years, but their people backed them and they have regrouped. We should also back our team."

Pressure has mounted on the top men of Pakistan cricket to step down, including the PCB chairman Ijaz Butt. The captain Mohammad Yousuf is also in danger of losing his job, after Butt announced midway through the tour that a new captain could be named. A disappointed Waqar Younis, the bowling and fielding coach, said he will explain the reasons for the team's defeat to the National Assembly Standing Committee on Sports.