CENTURION, Jan 11: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer is worried his team will be tired going into the cricket World Cup because of an overseas tour itinerary he described as ‘nonsensical.’

Pakistan started a three-Test series against South Africa on Thursday at Centurion, then follow with five One-day Internationals which don't finish until Feb 14, less than three weeks before the first official warm-up matches in the Caribbean for the World Cup.

“I think it could be a bridge too far for a lot of our players and I'm really worried about it,” Woolmer said on Wednesday.

He said he'd asked that Pakistan and South Africa play only one Test and five one-dayers, and thought the resulting itinerary only underlined his belief that it was becoming harder for teams to win away from home because games were crammed into diminishing periods of time.

“Today's preparation for Test series away is nonsensical,” Woolmer said.

“There's so little time to prepare. In the past, you would have a couple of four-day games, you'd have 10 or 11 days in the nets, and then you'd walk into the first Test match. Now you have to adapt as best you can to the conditions.

“South Africa have come off the back of two very good wins (against India). We had one game (against Rest of South Africa) in which to prepare, so we'll have to work very, very hard.

“Unfortunately, in today's merry-go-round, I think you can call it, tour itineraries are just nonsensical.

Woolmer said problem was not caused by International Cricket Council but by individual countries that drew up itineraries.

“They've got to sit down and really think it through. I'm particularly worried that World Cup comes so soon after a three day Test series and five one-day internationals crammed into just over a month.”

“I think it could be a bridge too far for a lot of our players and I'm really worried about it.”

“The modern coach is going to have to factor in a completely different way of structuring practices and structuring tours in order to cope with this situation. This all makes winning away from home very tough.”—Agencies