Woolmer hails Canada progress

Bob Woolmer © Getty Images

Buy this photo

Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer praised Canada’s improvement after his side beat the North Americans by 77 runs in their World Cup warm-up clash at the Sir Frank Worrell Memorial Ground.

Pakistan made 273 for eight from 48 overs in Trinidad and then dismissed the Canadians for 196 with eight balls remaining.

Woolmer said Canada had made big strides in the sport since the 2003 World Cup.

“For this, we must give a pat on the back to the ICC's high-performance programme for Associate teams,” said the former England batsman.

“The standard of Associate cricket is on the rise and we are seeing that now.”

Woolmer insisted the warm-up exercise was useful and Pakistan achieved their goal.

He said: "We are happy because winning can become habit. Everyone had a decent bowl and the batters all had a hit.”

Pakistan bowled nine no-balls and delivered 11 wides in 25 extras.

"The no-balls were a concern and is something that we have to work on,” Woolmer said.

Woolmer revealed he had spoken to Rana Naved-ul-Hasan, who bowled five no balls and three wides during the game.

“After I spoke to him, he bowled one no-ball in four overs," the Pakistan coach explained.

Vice-captain Younis Khan opened the batting as Pakistan sought stability at the top of the order.

Younis Khan was promoted to open Pakistan's batting against the Canadians © Getty Images

Buy this photo

Khan made 11 and Woolmer said it was skipper Inzamam-ul-Haq's idea to move the middle-order batsman to the top.

"Inzy came to me with the idea and we wanted to see Younis at the top of the order,” Woolmer said.

“Don't read much into it but it is something that we are looking at. We had players batting in different positions and this was all in a bid to get the right combination."

Canada coach Andy Pick was pleased with his team’s determination, saying: “They played well and continue to improve.

“They started the upward trend during the winter and have been playing good cricket since then.”

Pick revealed his players had all set personal goals, saying: “When we go out there to play, we are not playing against the opposition, we are playing against ourselves in order to improve."

Pick believes his team can make it to the super-eight stage of the World Cup - if fortune favours them.

He said: "If we can defeat Kenya and, with a bit of luck, win one of the remaining two games then we will be in the second stage."

Vice-captain Ashish Bagai insisted the performance against Pakistan meant people must stand up and take notice of the Associate teams.

"We just have to play consistently and, if one of the top teams don't play up to their standard on the day, then we can create an upset."