Pakistan v India, Asia Cup, 10th match

'The bonus-point system is flawed' - Woolmer

Charlie Austin

July 26, 2004

Here's what Bob Woolmer, the Pakistan coach, and Sourav Ganguly had to say after Pakistan kept their hopes in the Asia Cup alive with a comprehensive 59-run victory over India:

Shoaib Malik: the gamble to bat him at No. 3 worked brilliantly © AFP

Bob Woolmer
On Shoaib Malik batting at No. 3
I will give all the credit to Inzamam because it was his idea that Malik go there. At the moment I am still learning about the team, and Inzi and Haroon are guiding me.

On Pakistan conceding so many no-balls
I thought we were a bit unlucky with the no-balls today. Looking at the television replays, I don't think I saw too many.I thought we bowled pretty well today, but there is always room for improvement and we will keep working.

On India getting a bonus point
It shows a flaw in the bonus-point system. If you had no bonus point then I think India would have tried to go the whole way. I think the bonus point should be closer to the main target. I don't think a 60-run difference is right - I think 20 or 25 runs would be closer to what we want.

Sourav Ganguly
On the team's performance
We have not played well in this tournament. We carried on with what we did against Sri Lanka in Dambulla. It was a beautiful wicket and a quick outfield. It was just that we did not bat well and they bowled a better line than we did It was not just a bad day, it was poor cricket. We are not looking the side we were three months ago. I think it is in the head. We started the same way last season in New Zealand where they managed to level the series and I can see it happening [again]. Whether you call it rustiness or whether it is in the mind is for you to say.

On the decision to settle for the bonus point
When we started the innings we wanted to win because we have chased 300 many times in the past, but when we got to 160 for 5 we wanted to get to 240 [the target for the bonus point].

On Lakshmipathy Balaji's lacklustre performance
He has been our main bowler all this time and he has been winning us games, so I don't think it is fair [to single him out].

On VVS Laxman's injury
We have called for a replacement for Laxman because his knee won't recover in time for tomorrow. There is a lot of haematoma in the knee, which the doctor says cannot be taken off. The A team is in Zimbabwe so it cannot be someone from the next 14.

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Bulletin - Malik stars in Pakistan win

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