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Pakistan cricket team’s coach Bob Woolmer on Monday urged his young side to learn to live without banned captain Inzamam-ul-Haq at this month’s ICC Champions Trophy.

“Obviously losing Inzamam is a big loss, both as a player and as captain, but in a way at some stage Pakistan will have to learn to live without Inzamam,” Woolmer said. Inzamam was handed a four-match ban by the International Cricket Council (ICC) last week for bringing the game into disrepute after he led his team’s refusal to play in the fourth Test against England at The Oval in August. But he was acquitted of ball tampering.

“What happened at The Oval and in the last week’s hearing is now behind us. We are now focusing on cricket, with Younis Khan stepping in as captain, and whoever steps in as Inzamam’s replacement has a big challenge,” said Woolmer. “Inzamam is a great leader of players but as I said this young team will, at some stage, have to learn to live without him. Younis will have to show he is equal to the challenge and so is the team.”

The ICC Trophy qualifying rounds, involving four teams, begin from Saturday. Two teams from the qualifying rounds will join Australia, South Africa, India, Pakistan, New Zealand and England.

Woolmer said the Champions Trophy would be good for Pakistan. “Various teams treat this biennial event in a different way. You have a good chance to assess what other teams are doing six months before the World Cup so it’s a great test,” said Woolmer, referring to the World Cup in the Caribbean next year.

“I was there with South Africa when we won the tournament in 1998 and they went on to play the semifinal in the 1999 World Cup. But history shows no ICC Champions Trophy winners have gone on to win the World Cup,” said Woolmer. Woolmer reckoned paceman Mohammad Asif, who suffered back trouble last week, would be fit before the team’s departure.
Source:The News