Intikhab Alam was one of Pakistan's great all-rounders; a superb leg-spinner and a hard-hitting batsman any team would be happy to have.

Presently, the 63-year old is coach of the Punjab Ranji Trophy team and finds the state a home away from home.

"I feel absolutely no difference here [Punjab]. I have really enjoyed coaching in the Ranji Trophy and the team has responded by reaching the semi-finals. It is a good, young team with a lot of talent," says the former Pakistan captain and coach.

Despite Shoaib Akhtar [Images] not making the ongoing tour, talk of him still abounds.

The Pakistani fast bowler can excite crowds throughout the world with his brilliant bowling but, at the same time, is also the team's enfant terrible.

But Alam has a different opinion of him.

"Akhtar is a good kid and you have to treat him right. And, right now, the coach doesn't seem to be doing that. He remains one of the few bowlers capable of winning a match on his own. If I would have it my way, I would make him the Pakistan team's vice-captain. I am sure the responsibility would help him become an even better player," he says.

Giving responsibility helps, as we have seen in the case of Australia skipper Ricky Ponting [Images], who was a little rough around the edges before captaincy happened to him.

Alam also realizes that Bob Woolmer [Images] might be having a difficult time as coach.

"Coaching a Pakistan team can be very difficult. There are a lot of egos involved but I never really had any problems. I shared a good rapport with the team."

During Alam's reign as coach, the Pakistan team was divided into two distinct segments. One led by Imran Khan [Images] and the other by Javed Mianded.

"They were both very different. Imran was the serious guy, who was always thinking about cricket and tactics. Javed was the fun-loving guy, who was always up to some prank on the other. They both had to be handled differently."

From Imran and Miandad, talk shifted to the art of leg-spinning, and Anil Kumble [Images] and Danish Kaneria, who are playing in the first Test at Mohali.

"Kumble is a very good bowler and his strength is his consistency. On the Mohali wicket, his accuracy is very important, because it is a wicket that good batsmen enjoy batting on. Kaneria, on the other hand, is still young and there is a lot he can learn."

Asked to name his favourite leg-spinner, Alam had no hesitation in naming Shane Warne [Images].

"Warne is my favourite because of the way he gets his wickets. He belongs to a different era. That doesn't mean Kumble isn't as good. Anybody with over 400 wickets has to be good. This is just my personal opinion. Among Indian leg-spinners, I would rate Subhash Gupte, who I played cricket against, as head and shoulders above the rest."