Intikhab was Pakistan's manager for their 1992 World Cup victory

Former captain Intikhab Alam has been appointed as Pakistan's temporary coach following the sacking of Geoff Lawson.

Australian Lawson's surprise dismissal came three days after Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Ijaz Butt said he would be retained until April 2009.

Intikhab, who was manager of Pakistan's 1992 World Cup-winning squad, will take over for three one-day internationals against the West Indies in November.

But Butt said the length of Intikhab's contract would be decided next week.

"We would like to appoint Alam for a two-year contract, but the final decision will be announced after we take the approval of the (PCB's) governing board members," Butt said.

All-rounder Intikhab played 47 Test matches between 1959 and 1975, leading Pakistan in 17 of them. He also took 125 wickets as leg-spinner at an average of 35.95, and also had a long spell in English county cricket - playing for Surrey between 1969 and 1981.

606: DEBATE Is Intikhab a good long-term replacement?

"Nobody is bigger than the game and instilling discipline among the players will be my priority."

Former Test players had advocated the appointment of a Pakistani coach for the national team since Butt was appointed as the PCB chairman earlier this month.

Javed Miandad, Pakistan's highest scorer of Test runs and a former captain, last week called for a homegrown coach.

"I am against this concept of hiring foreigners for coaching the Pakistan team," said Miandad, who has coached his country three times over the last 12 years.

Lawson was employed on a two-year contract in July 2007 following the death of Bob Woolmer in the World Cup. He was the third foreign coach hired by the PCB after Woolmer and English-born Richard Pybus.

The PCB have had to pay Lawson three months' salary in advance following his dismissal.

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