LAHORE, Dec 4: Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has expressed his satisfaction with the side’s Test series win over England but is telling his players to remain focused for the One-day Internationals and the home series against India.

“I look at it as a special achievement by the players. They have prepared and worked very hard to beat England. It is special for me also. But we have harder challenges ahead and we can’t afford to get carried away,” Woolmer said on Sunday.

Pakistan scored their first Test series win since Woolmer took charge in June last year. It was also their first series win since January 2004, when they had triumphed in New Zealand.

“They are certainly more attuned to doing the right thing in tests now. Cricket is a game in which you must never be complacent. We can enjoy the moment but we have to sit down and work out where to go from here. It’s upwards and not downwards.”

Woolmer faced lot of criticism after replacing former captain Javed Miandad but said he was enjoying being part of an improving side.

“It is nice to be involved in a process where you can see a gradual improvement in the way this team is now approaching Test and one-day cricket. It is a sweet feeling for a coach,” he added.

Woolmer, who played 19 Tests for England and coached South Africa for five years, said Pakistan still needed to do more to be recognised as a leading side in world cricket.

“The one-day series against England is going to be a big ask. We have won the Test series and we need to carry on the good work,” he said.

“Then we face India and they have progressed well since we toured there and beat them 4-1 in the one-day series.”

“India is going to be a tough series for us because we need to prepare differently against them. They have couple of quality players and they will be hard to beat,” he said.

Woolmer praised his team, saying skipper Inzamamul Haq was a “giant” and fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar an “asset”.

“Inzamam has been a giant, literally, in this series,” Woolmer said.

“Inzamam played like a champion and our batting revolved around him in the series,” he said.

“The most important thing I have learned as a cricket coach is that the captain has to lead from the front,” said Woolmer.

“The coach acts as a right-hand man. The way Inzamam led the team with his batting has been phenomenal. He has a very wise head and is growing as a captain as well now. He is very important to Pakistan at the moment.”

Woolmer said he was also pleased with Shoaib, who had promised before the series he would give his best against England.

“Shoaib is an asset when he is fit and playing. He had some issues to resolve when he arrived and he has resolved them. He is now delivering,” said Woolmer. “This is exactly what Pakistan need. It was wonderful to see Shoaib firing on all cylinders. I am really pleased.”—Agencies