Woolmer to carry on as Pakistan prepare to play one-dayers by AFP

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Player:	Inzamam-ul-Haq
Event:	Pakistan in British Isles 2006

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DateLine: 24th August 2006

 

Bob Woolmer said Thursday he would continue in his post as Pakistan coach, although admitting he had contemplated resigning in the wake of the ball-tampering row that has threatened to wreck the team's tour of England.

 

And, in a separate announcement, Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Shaharyar Khan insisted the side would go ahead with the one-day international leg of the tour.

 

Woolmer, who some press reports suggested was on the verge of resigning, told AFP: "Throughout this whole affair I have remained solidly behind the Pakistan team and captain.

 

"I did contemplate resigning as I am 58 and at an age where I do not need these things in my career and life," the former England batsman admitted.

 

"I was very 'down' at the time but I feel it is important now to stay strong at this time.

 

"I have always been 100 percent with the team and the captain," Woolmer, keen to stress there was no rift between himself, skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq and the players, added.

 

Shaharyar Khan, also in London, insisted there had been no major rows within the camp. "There may be a few emotions flaring up considering the current scenario but nothing serious."

 

Pakistan threatened to boycott the remainder of their tour if captain Inzamam-ul-Haq was banned as a result of charges of ball-tampering and bringing cricket into disrepute following their forfeiture of the fourth and final Test against England at The Oval.

 

The team were incensed by the decision of on-field umpires Darrell Hair and Billy Doctrove to award England five penalty runs on Sunday because they believed Pakistan had illegally altered the condition of the ball and refused to take the field in protest.

 

When they twice failed to come on after tea with the umpires it was ruled that Pakistan had forfeited the match - the first time this had happened in 129 years of Test cricket.

 

Pakistan did turn up for their warm-up match against Middlesex at Uxbridge, west London, on Thursday but the game was abandoned because of rain.

 

They are now due to play England in a Twenty20 match at Bristol on Monday before the one-day series proper starts Wednesday in Cardiff.

 

Inzamam's case was due to be considered at a disciplinary hearing in London on Friday.

 

But the unavailabilty of International Cricket Council (ICC) chief match referee Ranjan Madugalle to hear the case meant the hearing would be delayed to an as yet unspecufied date and venue.

 

This was initially viewed as making it more likely the five-match one-day series preceded by Monday's Twenty20 fixture at Bristol would go ahead as, with the ICC saying it would be extremely difficult to hold the hearing while the series was in progress, the case against Inzamam would be unproven.

 

However, it soon became clear that Pakistan players were uncomfortable about proceeding with the tour while question marks against the conduct of their captain remained.

 

"The players did not want to play the one-day series with the sword of the hearing hanging over them but now they have realised the importance of playing," said Shaharyar. "Our focus is now on cricket."

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)