Pakistan coach says all not lost after Champions Trophy defeat by AFP

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Player:	Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif, Inzamam-ul-Haq, Mohammad Arif
Event:	ICC Champions Trophy 2006/07

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DateLine: 1st November 2006

 

Pakistan are still on track for next year's cricket World Cup despite their early Champions Trophy exit, but the team must learn quickly from their mistakes, coach Bob Woolmer said Monday.

 

"We are a good side and can play good cricket. It is important we look how we lost, learn from mistakes and look at things carefully before the World Cup," Woolmer told AFP.

 

Pakistan, already without two key bowlers after a drugs scandal, crashed out of the Champions Trophy with a 124-run defeat against South Africa in Mohali on Friday, their second loss in three matches.

 

Woolmer, who played 19 Tests for England and also coached South Africa between 1994-99, blamed recent events away from the pitch for Pakistan's lacklustre performance.

 

"I am not making any excuses, but off-field events of the last two months had a bearing. How do you expect a team to perform adequately after all this? But despite adversity they played out of their skins against Sri Lanka," said Woolmer, 58.

 

Pakistan were without their inspirational captain Inzamam-ul-Haq as he was serving a ban for bringing the game into disrepute during August's Oval Test against England. Inzamam had protested over allegations of ball tampering.

 

He was cleared of the tampering charges but was handed a four-match ban for his protest.

 

His replacement Younis Khan dramatically refused to lead the side, saying he did not want to be a dummy captain. That was followed by the resignation of the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Shaharyar Khan, whose replacement brought back Younis.

 

Then pacemen Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif were revealed to have tested positive for steroids a day before team's opening match against Sri Lanka at Jaipur.

 

Both were recalled from India and face a two-year ban pending an inquiry.

 

"Take (Ricky) Ponting, (Brett) Lee and (Glenn) McGrath out of the Australian team then see how they fare. In the same way Pakistan missed Inzamam, Asif and Akhtar and all three are important for Pakistan's World Cup campaign," said Woolmer.

 

Woolmer also blamed the Mohali pitch for Pakistan's dismal batting.

 

"People say we are not good on bouncy pitches like at Perth, Old Trafford and Mohali. In 2005, I asked the PCB for concrete pitches so that we can try and replicate them" but the request was never passed, he said.

 

Pakistan start a short training camp later this week to prepare for their three-Test and five one-day match home series against the West Indies.

 

The first Test starts in Lahore from November 11.

(Article: Copyright © 2006 AFP)