ST JOHN’S, May 16: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer expects a stiff challenge from West Indies in their imminent series of three One-day Internationals and two Tests, despite the pasting the home team has taken from South Africa. Woolmer, a former South Africa coach, made his comments after the Pakistanis arrived in the Caribbean.

“I think they have played against a strong South African team, but I think they are rebuilding, and they will be tough opposition,” Woolmer said.

“It is an important series for us to be geared up and hit the road running. Fortunately, all the players have been playing a lot of cricket, so it is not necessary from a practice point of view.

“It is just a matter of adjusting slightly to the pitches. I think they are going to be the same. I think it is important that we hit road running in the series because it is so short.

“After our performance in India, it is important that we build on this. We can’t sit on that. We have got to put that away. We have got to get stuck into this series. It is an important series for the whole team. It is an important series for us.”

Woolmer disclosed that the Pakistanis had taken a keen interest in the West Indies’ series against the Proteas.

West Indies have suffered a morale-sapping 2-0 loss in a four-match Test series, and also lost all five games in the one-day series.

“We have watched every game,” Woolmer said. “South Africa have a different side to us. They rely very much on their pace attack.

“We have a very good spin attack. We have some very fine spin bowlers. It is not to say we haven’t got a good seam attack. We have a very good seam attack as well.

“We don’t have the super pace, but we have players who bowl up there — 145 kph, 148 kph, so they are not slow. They are all good cricketers. We have some exciting young batsmen, and so we are really looking forward to the tour.”

Woolmer also expects batting superstar Brian Lara to be a factor in the series.

“He is a world class player, so if he plays spin well someone will have to try and get him out,” he said.

“But we have noticed some very good performances from the other players. We don’t underestimate the West Indies side at all.”

Woolmer, who played 19 Tests for England, also revealed that the Pakistanis would be using the tour to the Caribbean, especially their visit to Jamaica for the second Test, to ready themselves for the 2007 ICC World Cup scheduled for the Caribbean.

“We will be based in Jamaica (with the West Indies) for the World Cup, and so being in Jamaica for the last Test match will be a good experience for us,” he said.

“We will be able to see the facilities, and have a look to see what we need to do in that particular scenario.”—AFP