Woolmer begins his time as Pakistan's coach

Bob Woolmer has begun his tenure as Pakistan's eleventh coach in eight years by asking for "the support of the current players, former players, and fans."

"The current Pakistan cricket officials are determined to move their cricket forward," said Woolmer, "so I joined the bus as they are willing to give me all out support, technical or otherwise. I can control what I can control, I am going to do my job to the best of my abilities and have no fears of the past."

Woolmer, 56, who was born in Kanpur, India, made his name as Warwickshire's coach, before taking on the South Africa job from 1994 to 1998. He became the ICC's high performance manager in 2001.

He has said before that he would welcome input from Javed Miandad, the man he replaced as coach, and today reiterated that point. "Javed has a lot to do with this particular team and therefore I would like to ask him and talk to him about it. That's part of how I coach. I am not scared to bring other people on board. It's important that the coach is open."

Woolmer also urged Shoaib Akhtar to put his differences with the PCB behind him. "There is no secret that Shoaib has a difference of opinion with the Pakistan Cricket Board," he said. "But if he wants to play the bottom line is he has to be here. Shoaib must get on board our bus and the bus is going forward."

"The past is history and hopefully it's going to put a positive effect on Pakistan cricket. We have Australia as the benchmark as they are top of the tree at the moment. I am here as the conduit to pass as much knowledge as I can and it's the players who have to make up their mind what is good for them."

When asked whether his task as Pakistan's coach was the biggest challenge of his life, Woolmer concluded: "I don't know about the challenge of my life, but it's the nicest challenge of my life which I have accepted."