Kolkata was not a disaster: Pak coach
Bob Woolmer said not all was over for his team and that his players would bounce back in the series decider to square the three-Test series.
Pakistan's cricket coach Bob Woolmer on Tuesday said not all was over for his team after the defeat in the second Test and that his players would bounce back in the series decider and square the series.
"We have to be optimistic. I don't think it was a disaster (at Kolkata) ... I am expecting them to bounce back. That's the whole team effort", Woolmer said ahead of the third and final Test starting on Thursday.
Woolmer said Pakistan let the match out of their grasp when they failed to gain a sizeable first innings lead.
"There was some very good leg spin bowling display by Kumble. We lost on the third day (itself). It was a tough wicket to bat on," he said.
"We have to put that behind. We have to get stuck into this match (third Test). We are very positive, going into this match."
Woolmer said he was not satisfied by Pakistan's performance in the series so far. "In order to beat India, which is a very good side, we need to bowl and bat a lot better. We had certain glimpses of that in both matches (first and second Tests). Now we have to put the whole package together for this match."
He admitted that Pakistan missed fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar. "Any team will miss a bowler of his pace," he said.
"It's going to be a difference. If he is not fit and can't play, what do I do"?
In a lighter vein, he said, "I can't get another Shoaib. I can't do that, unfortunately. Cloning of human beings is banned."
A matter of worry for the side was the number of no balls being bowled, especially by Mohammed Sami, Woolmer said and added that he is working on it.
Asked if he was concerned about the excellent form of Rahul Dravid and Anil Kumbl, he said the visiting side would put up a 'front bowler' against Dravid (to contain him). The batsmen would try to stop Kumble from taking wickets and score runs off him, he said.
