16 December 2004	Thursday	03 Ziqa'ad 1425

PERTH, Dec 15: Pakistan cricket coach Bob Woolmer has batted away allegations by former Test great Javed Miandad that he had done nothing to improve the team's stocks since taking the reins six months ago.

Speaking on the eve of Pakistan's first of three Tests against Australia due to start at the Western Australian Cricket Association ground on Thursday, Woolmer said Miandad, one of Pakistan's greatest batsmen, had criticised not only the coach, but the entire side.

"It's very disappointing that a senior, very respected cricketer (and) past coach of the Pakistan cricket team comes out and criticises the team, the coach and everyone involved ... that's basically what he's doing and I find that rather disappointing coming from someone of his calibre," the 56-year-old Woolmer said.

Miandad was quoted in a Pakistani newspaper as saying that Woolmer had yet to settle on a team and was ignorant of Pakistan's cricketing culture. Woolmer, a former England Test player and coach of South Africa, took over in June, when Miandad was sacked after his side lost a home series 2-1 to arch-rival India.

He said he was disappointed by Miandad's remarks which he said also reflected poorly on himself. "(They are) harsh words from someone who had the team before I took over.

It's like ... criticising yourself," he said. "He's not working with me, he's not in the dressing room, he doesn't understand what I'm doing or what I'm trying to do, so he's really saying things from outside."

Woolmer also hit back at the Pakistan media for its criticism of him, the team and the Pakistan Cricket Board. "Quite frankly, if Pakistan were to get together and unite the forces and harness all the forces they had, it would be a much better country for it," he said. -AFP