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Woolmer aims to see Pakistan winning
November 17, 2004 12:40 IST
Pakistan's coach Bob Woolmer aims to extend his team's recent domination over India to other top cricket sides of the world as well.
Woolmer, who masterminded Pakistan's win against India in a commemorative one-day match in Kolkata on Saturday, is thrilled with the win but would like his team to perform well against other top opponents.
"My aim is not to stop the Indians. I want to make my team play the type of cricket that will beat any side," he said.
The win was Pakistan's fourth on the trot against their archrivals.
"In one-day cricket the game fluctuates quickly and one has to think on his feet. For every match, we have a plan and the team has adjusted according to the situation," Woolmer said of his team's good run of form.
Asked what was the game plan that he chalked out for the match against India, he said, "we had decided that if we bowled first we should restrict India to a small total.
"It was a good batting wicket and the Indians scored more than we expected. However, towards the end of our innings, we realised that their bowlers were finding it difficult to hold the ball due to the dew," he was quoted as saying in the Gulf News.
"From my experience, I have learned that with dew conditions a total of 290 or 300 is attainable."
Woolmer also said that the team had overcome pressure generated by sections of the Pakistani media.
"Some newspapers cooked up false stories. They were affecting the relationships between the players. We identified those newspapers and kept them out. This has resulted in respect for each other and better teamwork.
"I do not know why these stories are made up. The best way to silence any criticism is to keep winning."
Praising Inzamam-ul Haq as skipper, he said, "I've enjoyed my relationship with Inzamam. He is a very good player and is calm. He thinks about the game and will develop further so that we can really take the team to take new levels."