Pakistan's pace attack will be key - Woolmer

Pakistan's fast bowling resources might hold the key to a tough series in South Africa, according to Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach. At their disposal, as the squad is finalised, will be the likes of Umar Gul, Shahid Nazir, Mohammad Sami, Rana Naveed-ul-Hasan and the returning trio of Shoaib Akhtar, Mohammad Asif and Shabbir Ahmed.

Woolmer told the Karachi-based daily Dawn, "The tour will be a tough one but our bowling -- assuming all our bowlers are fit and selected -- will be a force. Our batting, however, will have to cope with the pitches in South Africa and that will be a major task. But I believe we have the ability to do well. Let's wait and see what happens. Touch wood, all will depend how quickly the lads get used to the conditions."

Though an appeal filed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) still hangs over the heads of Shoaib and Asif, Woolmer is confident that the back up is strong. "I have no information as regards WADA's action. But even then, we have a good back up attack with Shabbir Ahmed available again and Umar Gul, Shahid Nazir and Mohammad Sami doing well.

"(Rana) Naved's form was also exceptional and it was so nice to see this really great guy doing so well against the West Indies in the ODIs. It will be great to have him available for the Test matches and I hope he can carry that form into the Tests."

Hope can also be drawn from South Africa's struggles in the ongoing Test series against India. Widely acknowledged as favourites heading into the Tests, following a 4-0 thumping of India in the ODI series, South Africa were bundled out for 84 by India's pace attack in the first innings of the first Test at Johannesburg, on the way to a 123-run defeat. Having prepared a fast, bouncy track to exploit India's supposed weaknesses against pace, the ploy backfired on the hosts.

Woolmer said, "That result in Johannesburg is a good example since it shows that South Africa can be bowled out and secondly, they can be beaten at home. I believe that the Wanderers pitch was a contributory factor, which backfired on the tactics that the Proteas wanted to employ.

"In fact it allowed India to expose technical frailties in the South African line-up. However, knowing the South Africans as I do, I think they will come back strongly in the remaining Tests against India."

Woolmer pointed out that South Africa's Test performances recently had been poor by their standards. "They are a team that fights hard and has some fine players. Part of their current problem could be behind the scene wrangles but there recent Test match performances have been poor by their standards. In the one-day game, though, they are still a force to reckon with.

"Mind you, the team is the key. We have to play against the whole South African team and not the individuals. Naturally, players like (Jacques) Kallis and (Shaun) Pollock and (Mark) Boucher are key members as are (Makhaya) Ntini and (Herschelle) Gibbs. There are no easy games at this level.

"The fact that we are playing a tough team is important. It means we will have to prepare the best way we can. It is exactly what we need. I was very heartened by our performances against the West Indies who are a good one-day team. The World Cup is still far away and the South African tour will boost our preparations."