Coach Alam refutes pressure charge claimed by Afridi

Lahore, May 22 (ANI): Former Pakistan cricket coach Intikhab Alam has refuted skipper Shahid Afridi's claim that he forced him to win the toss in the last ODI against Australia.

According to The Nation, Alam asked: "Winning of toss is in no captain's hands. How can I have asked him to win it"?

Alam is presently attached with the National Cricket Academy (NCA) here.

Earlier, Afridi had said: "Coach Intikhab Alalm told me to lead the team in the fifth ODI just 40 minutes before the match and put unnecessary pressure to win the toss. He said it would be all gloom and doom if we lose the toss. I interrupted him and asked why was he demoralising players even before the toss? Why it would be all gloom and doom even if we just lose the toss?"

"I even didn't say in the context that winning the toss would give advantage of winning the match," The Nation quoted Alam, as saying.

"The regular captain, Mohammad Yousuf declared himself unfit at the last moment and we had no option, but to ask a fit Afridi to lead the side," Alam further said.

Afridi did win the toss, but not the 50-over ODI match at Perth on January 31.

Ponting's side won the match and the series five nil. (ANI)