We want to win it for Woolmer (From Asian Image)

We want to win it for Woolmer

5:04pm Tuesday 16th June 2009

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Younus Khan has revealed Pakistan are aiming to win the World Twenty20 as a tribute to former coach Bob Woolmer.

Englishman Woolmer died during Pakistan’s 2007 World Cup campaign in the Caribbean and Younus believes Lord’s final success in this current tournament would be a fitting tribute.

Woolmer spent more than two-and-a-half years in charge, with the majority of the current squad regulars during that period.

”He was an inspiring person for us,” said Younus, whose team have overcome a slow start to reach the semi-finals.

”He was like a father figure for me and for the whole team.

”We all still miss him and if we win the World Cup I will dedicate that final game to him.”

Younus still refers to Woolmer’s advice for his match strategies, evident in the last few days as he has revamped the Pakistan batting order to good effect.

Kamran Akmal and Shahid Afridi have been shunted towards the top in a bid to stimulate some runs ahead of bigger games and both have shown signs of clicking.

”I learned a lot of things from Bob and he was always flexible, especially in the batting order,” Younus said.

”I thought we needed a couple of in-form batsmen for big games like the semi-final and final.”

A failure to make big enough scores plagued Pakistan’s start to this event and their 48-run thrashing by England in their opening group game threatened their future participation.

They were still a little below their aspirations with 159 for five against Ireland at the Oval in yesterday’s comfortable win, but Younus said: “Everybody knows we’re slow starters.

”We take some time and we need some time for ourselves and now we are just two wins away from winning the World Cup.

”I still believe we were 20 runs short. It would be good if we could put 180 or 200 on the board because in the semi-finals there will be good teams against us and it’s not possible to win all the time scoring 150.”

Pakistan’s biggest worries with the ball currently come from outside the camp with Younus claiming yesterday that innuendo suggesting his team were ball-tampering was “embarrassing”.

Umar Gul’s five for six against New Zealand raised eyebrows among their opponents but his success has not come overnight.

Gul is the leading wicket-taker in 20-over internationals’ short history with 36 - six ahead of team-mate Shahid Afridi, who is next best and also finished as the most prolific bowler in the previous world tournament with 13 victims in South Africa.

”He knows the art, especially in Twenty20,” said Younus. “He has worked hard in the nets. He has spoken to Wasim Akram, Waqar Younis, Imran Khan and Shoaib Akhtar.

”It’s all about hard work in the nets and that’s why he’s improving from day to day.”

By Richard Gibson

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