Rashid hails Woolmer, Woolmer hails his team

There is much mutual lauding going on in Pakistan right now, and with good reason. Their win at Amstelveen against India - their second in a row - indicated that they are a resurgent outfit, and while Bob Woolmer, recently appointed their coach, was given credit for the transformation, Woolmer insisted that Pakistan were "the most disciplined side" he had ever coached.

Rashid Latif, a former Pakistan captain, said that Pakistan were beginning to play to their potential under Woolmer. He was reported in The News as saying: "Pakistan has always been a good and dangerous side. But our biggest problem has been consistency and organization ... the players tend to relax and not play to their full potential on given days. And the new coach apparently has realized this, and is working on making them a more disciplined and organized outfit on the field."

Latif said that Woolmer was right in backing Shahid Afridi, but "he also needs to have a look at some other young players back home. Obviously he will take time to get a grip on our particular cricket culture. But he has already taken all the right steps."

Woolmer, on the other hand, modestly downplayed his role in the team's performance. Speaking to The News, he said, "I have to say to you, when people said to me [that] `they [Pakistan] were not the most disciplined side', [they were wrong.] They are the most disciplined side I have ever had to coach, in terms of behaviour. They are absolute gentlemen, every single one of them."

However, Woolmer admitted, "on the field we've got to stop [bowling] no-balls and wides." He continued, "One hopes we can continue this particular run of success against India, all two games of it. We have to keep in mind [that] this was a 33-over game. If the game goes on for 50 overs it can be very different. We just have to be measured in our thinking. If you look at the Indian side, [they have a] fantastic batting order, all the way down. But we just need to keep working on our game."