By Waheed
September 29 2004

Find out what Bob Woolmer really thinks of the players he is in charge of. Thanks to Waheed for painstakingly collating all these comments and views from Bob Woolmer. Abdul Razzaq:

He is bowling very well at the moment.
I don't agree with you and believe you are being too harsh, In fact Razzaq has been bowling beautifully - where have you been?
Razzq at all he is bowling very well at the moment.

Asim Kamal:

Asim Kamal is more of a Test Player so I am led to believe, he fields at short leg and is not as agile as others are in the one-day game.
His fielding for one-day cricket was not very good

Asim has a lot of work to do on fitness and fielding if he is to challenge for a place in the one-day team.

Azhar Mahmood:

Azhar Mahmood is a good player I am sure his turn will come.
Azhar I rate highly

Danish Kaneria:

Danish kaneria is a class spinner so it will be a little time yet unless he takes hats full of wickets.
I suspect that the selctors are very happy with Danish kaneria
Danish is extremely unlucky and will be upset that he is not included.

One day criket demands slightly different types of cricketers all the while that Shoaib Malik is playing like he is it will be a problem as Shoaib is such a good batsman.

Hasan Adnan:

I think he ceratinly warrants a look , he has ben playing regularly in the Pakistan domestic season, so we can look at him then.

Iftikar Rao:
Rao is one who has impressed.

Rao is a right arm quick bowler with a lovely away swing.


Imran Farhat:

Imran Farhat did not have much opportunity as he was injured for the Sri Lankan game.
so I would like to give him achance and I was impressed by Yasir. I think they have the makings of a good pair.
Imran is practicing every day. (leg spin)
hopefully Imran Farhat will grow as a leg spinner.

Imran Nazir:

Imran nazir, he needs to re look at his game. That is why he was left out.
Imran had his chances and did not take them so he was replaced that does not mean to say that he cannot come again.

Inzamam-ul-Haq:

Indeed so far my impression of Inzy is that he is the strong silent type with lots of heart and feeling for Pakistan.
I think that Inzy and Moin will know when they have to retire
Inzy is enjoying his cricket and I am sure he will continue as long as he is fit to continue.

Inzamam is a quiet undemostrative leader but he has great mental strength and a huge amount of experience

Muhammad Irshad:

I have seen him he is a genuine prospect.
Yes I have he has great potential

Mohammed Sami:

I htink Sami has extraordinary talent we must try and help him to control that talent so that it works well for him and the team. He is a terrific cricketer, brilliant in the filed fast and swings it. As soon as we can get his confidence back then he will be terrific.

Mohammed Sami is a class act he will come good just be patient.
If he wants it badly enough then he can certainly.

Moin Khan:

Moin is doing OK and working hard.
I think that Inzy and Moin will know when they have to retire

Rana Naveed:

I think he is a good player, he is no mug with the bat
I was impressed by Rana too.
I thought Rana and Sami swung the ball beautifully!

Riaz Afridi :

I was impressed by Riaz Afridi.
Riaz Afridi does not bowl anything like Glen McGRath!!!

Shahid Afridi :

I would like to sit with Shaid Afridi and discuss his future with him. He is an extremely talneted player. A destructive batsman and more than useful bowler

I THINK 6 IS PROBABLY HIS BEST POSITION BUT WE NEED HIM SOMETIMES TO COME IN EARLIER.
Afridi and I are discussing his mental approach to the game.

Afridi is an impact player and it did not come off. Feel for him he sacrifices performance for teh team!
Afridi- He is a very good leg spinner.

I actually think that Afridi's basic technique withstands scrutiny, it is the little amn on his left choulder "Mr Silly" That he listens to too much.

He should turn to his right shoulder sometimes and speak to "Mr Sensible" perhaps then he would last longer. Just imagine 60 balls from Mr Afridi! Awesome!

Shahid Afridi is an impact player, he plays for the team and does what he is told, that is why his record is not great.

Don't judge him too much but he can win you games, when he fails he is still trying to do his best.

Shoaib Akhtar:

Shoaib and I have discussed his future and he is committed to the cause of making Pakistanm cricket numer 1 I do not think we will see less than 100% committment from him.

Shoaib is battling hard at the moment lets stick with him.

It is born in him he is naturally a fast bowler, he is strong and could be fitter btu has natural speed.

I would rather he didn't give the batsman so much width.

there might be a problem with Shoaib and I will speak to him later but I do not know what it is.

When Shoaib is bowling he is in charge!

I think he will bowl it more when the situation demands it. He is his own boss when he bowls.

I am sure Shoaib is thinking but it went wrong.
Shoaib is fine he is bowling differently but I like it

Well if that is what he wants thats fine, He ceratinly isn't irreplaceable. Lets keep working on him.

I understand that but I am not psychic if he wants a rest then he must tell me!


Shoaib and Sami bowled lots of yorkers sometimes they do not pitch exactly and the batters benefit.

I am not sure that I agree with you about Shoaib he is bowling more slower bowlers and changing his pace more to try and upset teh batsmans rhythm.

Shoaib Malik :

all the while that Shoaib Malik is playing like he is it will be a problem as Shoaib is such a good batsman.

Tariq Mahmood :

I saw Tariq Mehmood at the world cup and his Doosra is definitelty suspect I do however think he has much potential and look forward to working with him.

Bruce Elliot has already seen Tariq and he is working with Darryl Foster at the Academy with his action, I agree he has real potential.

Wahab Riaz :

I like the look fo Wahab Riaz a young left armer and there are plent more to choose from

Yasir Hameed:

Yasir has batted very responsibly, without much luck, I like him as a player he is a very hard worker.

Younis Khan:

Younis Khan is not a misfit at all, he is a very important part of the team, he is an excellent fielder a good batsman and a very popular member of the team.

The problem is that batting down the order is not about averages but about runs per ball. I am very happy with his contribution.


Younis Khan bats in the sort of position that is not condusive to a good average unfortunately. He is in the team because he is very quick between the wickets, an excellent fielder, a lively and vibrant character and potentially as good as anyone else in similar circumstances.
He as you quite rightly said has 100 odi's to his credit. He is therefore prtty experienced as well.

Younis Khan I think he is an excellent all -round cricketer, great fielder he has talent with the bat and unfortunately he has to bat in tough situations, and receives more criticism than praise.

Zahid Saeed:

Zahid Saeed bowled well and hopefully we will see more of him on the A tour to Kenya in July and August. Rao was at the camp and impressed me