Crucial phase begins for Pakistan (dawn news)

KARACHI, Aug 27: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said on Sunday that the forthcoming One-day International series against England will herald a crucial phase for his side with the World Cup just over seven months away.

Talking to Dawn from Bristol, where on Monday Pakistan face England in a Twenty20 International, Woolmer said his team was looking forward to playing cricket after last Sunday’s Hair-raising events at The Oval.

“It will be an important series for Pakistan for two reasons. Firstly, to return to the game and wipe out the politics which diverted everybody’s attention.

“And secondly, we need to build our tactics and formations for next year’s World Cup in the West Indies.”

Asked if the lads were mentally tuned up after The Oval match, the coach replied: “We will get there slowly but certainly we can use the mess to have some real motivation to do well.”

He described the availability of frontline bowlers Mohammad Asif, Rana Naved-ul-Hasan and Shoaib Akhtar as a great boost. “The return of these fine bowlers will help certainly but this is one-day cricket so different from the five-day format.”

The former England batsman warned his team not to get complacent despite England’s 5-0 one-day drubbing against Sri Lanka earlier in the summer. “Definitely, we must not relax because England will be keen to redress the balance.”

Woolmer claimed that fielding, which still is a worrying factor for Pakistan, has ‘improved’ during the Test series.

“Despite much criticism the fielding has generally improved. I get the feeling people just lump catching with fielding.

“Our throwing is excellent our ground fielding has improved and catching will always be subjective. No one means to drop a catch!” he joked.

When asked whether Pakistan were heading in the right direction with an eye on the World Cup, Woolmer believed they are close to getting there.

“There is no doubt that we have a good squad of players. We are finding out in what areas each player can be most productive.

“I believe that the next 20 One-day Internationals are important to get our strategies right and in place for the World Cup in 2007,” the coach hoped.

The one-dayers get underway from Wednesday with the day-night clash in Cardiff, followed by second at Lord’s on Sept 2 with two more day-night games at the Rose Bowl in Southampton on Sept 5 and at Trent Bridge three days later. The series conclude with the final fixture at Edgbaston on Sept 10.

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Even thou conditions will be world apart pakistan should use this series to get some momentum going into the CT in india in sept/oct.

Pakistan is a dangerous LOI team. They have a strong batting line-up, with depth, for LOIs. Younis Khan can work the ball around, Inzamam and Yousuf are versatile players able to adapt their game to given cicrumstances. And they have some serious dynamite in the lower middle order, with Afridi, Razzaq and Akmal.

In bowling they have the pace of Akhtar, the swing of Rana and the accuracy and bounce of Asif. Razzaq, Afridi and Malik supplement the attack. It is a dangerous bowling line-up because it is a wicket taking line-up that has variety.

The problem areas are, as ever, fielding and running between the wickets and of course the absence of settled opening combination.

These are the reason why we tend to run australia close but always fall at last hurdle. Against some sides these deficencies can be hidden away. Against better sides its sorely exposed. I dont think we will ever improve with fielding or running between wickets.

It looks like hafeez and malik will be given ago as a pairing here. i guess malik will take up the role of agressor, I hope hafeez shows some of the skills he did domestically in 20/20 cricket.