Intikhab Alam fears for Kaneria's future

Pakistan's former captain and coach Intikhab Alam fears forthe future of leg-spinner Danish Kaneria and believes he has fallen prey toinsecurity and poor management. Intikhab, who was manager-cum-coachof the team that won the 1992 World Cup and was himself a notable leg-spinner,said he could see that Kaneria was losing confidence fast as a bowler."In his case, I think it is a case of too many cooks spoiling thebroth. He is getting too much advice on his bowling. I think he has reached astage where after every bad ball he bowls, he looks over his shoulder to see whois watching," Intikhab said. Kaneria, 27, is the most experiencedbowler in the national side at the moment with 220 Test wickets in 51 matches.He struggled in India with his bowling with the selectors unhappywith his tendency to push the ball faster through the air.Playingfor Habib Bank in the Quaid-e-Azam Trophy final in Karachi this week, theleg-spinner had a disappointing match raising concerns over his immediate futurein the Pakistan side.Intikhab said Kaneria was clearly havingproblems with his action since he had changed his run-up. "He needsto be given confidence by all concerned. He is feeling insecure as a bowler.Which is not good for him or the team. Given we have a scarcity of spinners inthe country, he must be encouraged to get over his bad patch," he said.Intikhab said Kaneria, unlike other leg-spinners, had a chest onfollow through and was not side on. "But he has already playedenough cricket and you can't change his action now. But one can work on hisconfidence definitely." It has become obvious in recent days,especially during the Quaid Trophy final, that selectors were not happy withKaneria's bowling form and with Pakistan's next Test series against Australia,the feeling is he should be played in the One-dayers against Zimbabwe to boosthis confidence.