Woolmer hits back at Miandad

Bob Woolmer has expressed his disapproval over Javed Miandad's scathing criticism and termed it as "very disappointing". Miandad had questioned Woolmer's coaching methods and said that nothing much had changed since he took over as coach.

Speaking to the media on the eve of the first Test, Woolmer was blunt with his reaction. "It's very disappointing that a senior, very respected cricketer and past coach of the Pakistan cricket team comes out and criticises the team, the coach and everyone involved," he said. "I find that rather disappointing coming from someone of his caliber."

Woolmer, who was blamed for experimenting too much with the side, found the remark even more confounding because Miandad had been in charge right before he took over. "[They were] harsh words from someone who had the team before I took over. It's like ... criticising yourself. He's not working with me, he's not in the dressing-room, he doesn't understand what I'm doing or what I'm trying to do, so he's really saying things from outside."

Woolmer then spoke about working together and, refreshingly, didn't limit it to cricket. "Quite frankly, if Pakistan were to get together and unite the forces and harness all the forces they had, it would be a much better country for it."