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Bob Woolmer is hoping the Pakistan team would play the sort of cricket in the One-day International (ODI) series against England that would put The Oval Test controversy in the background.

The Englishman is happy that cricket action has resumed after a weeklong gap that was dominated by what has been termed by the British media as ‘Hairgate’.

“It’s such a relief,” Woolmer told this correspondent as his players prepared to take on England in a day-night ODI here at the Sophia Gardens on Wednesday. “Whatever happened in the past week or so was so unnecessary but thankfully we are moving on,” added the Pakistan coach.

Woolmer found himself in the middle of the ball-tampering controversy on the fourth day of The Oval Test when umpire Darrell Hair awarded a five-run penalty against them and allowed England batsman Kevin Pietersen to choose another ball.

Hair’s controversial actions prompted Pakistan to stay back in the dressing room after the tea interval as a mark of protest and later the umpires announced the Test as forfeited in England’s favour. Woolmer was seen walking angrily towards match referee Mike Procter’s room soon after the ball-tampering accusations and since then has found himself sewn in the crisis.

A major controversy raged for several days and though Hair was at the centre, Woolmer was also dragged into it following accusation that with him as coach, South Africa were also involved in ball tampering. He has denied the allegation.

Woolmer says he is not thinking about the preceding week’s happenings and is now fully focused on the one-day contest that began with a five-wicket win for Pakistan in a Twenty20 game at Bristol on Monday.

Woolmer said his players were in a positive frame of mind and would work hard to win the limited overs contest in style.

About comeback star Shoaib Akhtar, Woolmer expressed the speedster is making all-out efforts to get back in peak form and the progress has been good.

Source:The News

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