Woolmer puts England thoughts on backburner

Bob Woolmer, Pakistan's coach, will not make any decision about future coaching opportunities until Pakistan's World Cup campaign is done and dusted.

Woolmer was responding to speculation in the press suggesting that he is one of the contenders to replace Duncan Fletcher, the England coach, who has said he will consider his position when his current contract expires after the World Cup.

But speaking to Cricinfo the day after Pakistan completed an absorbing five-wicket win over South Africa at Port Elizabeth, Woolmer said: "I want to finish the World Cup, hopefully guide Pakistan to success there, before I start thinking of anything else."

Woolmer was appointed by the PCB in June 2004, on a three-year contract, and with no assignments after the World Cup ends in April, there has been uncertainty over whether he stays or moves on.

Prior to the South Africa tour, some unconfirmed reports suggested that the PCB would look for new candidates. Woolmer said that he has several options he is exploring after the World Cup but added that "all doors would be kept open, but nothing will happen until after the World Cup."

Although Woolmer has enjoyed a largely successful stint with Pakistan, with series wins against England, India and Sri Lanka among his more significant achievements, he has also undergone an unsettling few months with Pakistan lurching from crisis to controversy. During the Oval Test farrago last August, when Pakistan forfeited a Test, Woolmer admitted he had come close to resigning.

He was in the running for the England job eight years ago, eventually losing out to Fletcher. His name was linked to the job again recently after an interview in The Times in which he said, of the England role, "I would be foolish not to be [open to the idea]. I have always been proud of playing for England and just missed out on coaching them [in the past] because the timing was not right."

Allan Donald, the former South African fast bowler, who worked with Woolmer while he was coach of South Africa and Warwickshire, has also given his backing. "I can't think of a more experienced coach to take over the job if it was to come along," Donald told the BBC.

Peter Moores, the director of the ECB Academy, and Sri Lanka's coach, Tom Moody, are also said to be in the running for the post that Fletcher has held since the winter of 1999-2000.