Can’t take the WI lightly: Woolmer

He has plenty of experience of the great man, having coached the West Indies captain during the 1994 English season when Warwickshire won three domestic trophies and Lara scored a first-class world-record 501 not out, on the Birmingham ground, against Durham. “Ramnaresh Sarwan made runs today too. So it’s not going to be an easy game by any stretch of the imagination.”

Pakistan booked their place in the last four when, having restricted India to 200 all out, they finished on 201-7 with four balls to spare. Yousuf Youhana’s unbeaten 81 saw Pakistan home after fast bowler Rana Naved took a one-day international career-best 4-25. Youhana came to the crease with Pakistan in trouble at 27-3 and needed a runner for the final stages of his innings after suffering cramps.

Looking ahead to the possibility of winning a final against either world champions Australia or hosts England (who play at Edgbaston on Tuesday) at the Oval on Saturday, Inzamam said: “We will try our very best. The way this team is playing it is looking very good and hopefully we will go through.” Former England batsman Woolmer said he was trying to comprehend the enormity of an India-Pakistan clash, having seen his team make harder work than they ought to have done of winning a game watched by a 21,000 sell-out crowd.