Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach, praised the younger members of his sidefor pulling Pakistan out of a potentially sticky situation against WestIndies and ensuring they got their Champions Trophy campaign off to awinning start

Osman Samiuddin at the Wanderers23-Sep-2009Intikhab Alam, the Pakistan coach, praised the younger members of his sidefor pulling Pakistan out of a potentially sticky situation against WestIndies and ensuring they got their Champions Trophy campaign off to awinning start. Man of the match Umar Akmal, with a little help from stand-in captainShahid Afridi, eventually guided Pakistan home in their 134-run chase withan accomplished, unbeaten 41.The 19-year-old Akmal had seen his teamslide to 76 for 5 at one stage, his senior colleagues gone in a tentativetop-order chase. Akmal took time to settle in but once he had, out camethe strokeplay that has got his international career off to such aproductive start: though only five ODIs old, he averages over 77 with astrike rate over 100. Even a Tino Best beamer that smashed into his finger(the injury is not serious according to Alam) couldn’t stop him.”We expect a great deal from this young man,” Alam said. “He’s done agreat deal in a short amount of time. I have a lot of time for him and hehas a great future ahead of him.”Pakistan had Mohammad Aamer to thank for ensuring they chased such a smalltotal in the first place. The 17-year-old took three wickets, includingone in the first over of the innings, to plant the seeds of West Indies’collapse. Umar Gul provided important support, picking up three wickets aswell.”Our fast bowlers were very good,” Alam said. “I have a lot of time for both.Umar Gul is very committed and did wonders in England. And young Aamer isa very talented player. When we took him to England and we played himstraight away in the World Twenty20, you can imagine he bowled the lastover against South Africa in the semi-final, you can imagine he must havegreat ability. He has a great future.”There will be concerns, however, about a rusty-looking top and middleorder, especially as stronger bowling attacks lie in wait. The pitch waslively enough, though Pakistan’s remaining games, as Alam pointed out,were in Centurion.”The pitch was difficult also and bowling was good. Itwas the first match of the season at this ground and that grass will goeventually and there was uneven bounce. It was a good lesson for us.”I was a little surprised when they elected to bat because we would’vebowled. It did a lot. West Indies bowled a really good line, they had abit of pace and we made it difficult for ourselves too. Now we play atCenturion where the surface will be different.”That will be Pakistan’s next game on Saturday, against India and they arehoping to have captain Younis Khan back for that. Younis sustained ahairline fracture on a finger on his right hand in a warm-up game, forcinghim to sit out the opening game. There is good news as Younis did hold abat for the first time since the injury. “He did practice this afternoonfor an hour,” Alam said. “He felt okay and I am sure he will play in thenext match.”If not, Afridi will remain captain and that, Alam noted, is no bad thing.This was Afridi’s first ODI as captain, adding to the T20I win under hisleadership against Sri Lanka last month, “I was impressed with him today.He showed a responsibility and maturity in his play and that is why he wasmade captain for T20s. I thought it was a very good decision.”