Row made Pakistan stronger: Woolmer by CricketArchive staff reporter

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Player:

RA Woolmer

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DateLine: 5th September 2006

 

Even though the International Cricket Council has asked Pakistan to stop talking about the ball-tampering row, people concerned cannot just be muzzled.

 

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer said the ball-tampering furore that saw his team forfeit the fourth Test with England has made the tourists doubly determined in the ODI series.

 

Woolmer said his team - who lead England 1-0 - have become a fiercer unit because of the controversy and hopes that the new team spirit will continue through to next year's World Cup. "In a way it helped the attitude of the players and it's been a motivating factor for them," said Woolmer ahead of Tuesday's third one-dayer. “Sometimes from adversity you draw strength and I think they have drawn strength from this particular problem and are showing it on the field. Let's hope it continues right the way through to the end of the World Cup."

 

Captain Inzamam-ul-Haq is still due to come up before a disciplinary hearing where he faces charges of altering the condition of the ball and bringing the game into disrepute. But the 36-year-old batsman - a survivor of Pakistan's World Cup triumph in 1992 - has shown no sign of letting the pressure get to him and scored an unbeaten 42 in Saturday's seven-wicket win at Lord’s. Woolmer said he was not surprised by his captain's response to the crisis. "There is a lot of pressure on his shoulders but he is a strong man and he has worked through it," said Woolmer.