145;Take it one game at a time, keep adapting146;

Bob Woolmer has always been one for quiet diplomacy. The soft approach rather than the aggressive style that often surrounds teams such as P...

Bob Woolmer has always been one for quiet diplomacy. The soft approach rather than the aggressive style that often surrounds teams such as Pakistan: naturally talented and yet often schizophrenic when it comes to understanding their inner identity. And that8217;s probably what allows him to look ahead to Sunday against India despite the crushing loss to Sri Lanka on Wednesday.

He is the sort who calms eccentric habits that create a state of panic within the Pakistan dressing-room when an innings is in the process of disintegrating or the bowling has been decidedly wayward. Surprisingly, though, he looks at Sunday8217;s encounter between India and Pakistan as a 8216;8216;needle8217;8217; affair, despite playing down the rivalry aspect of the encounter.

India beat Pakistan 3-2 when the two met in Pakistan earlier in the year, a defeat that went some way towards getting Woolmer his new assignment as Javed Miandad lost his job as Pakistan coach. A 2-3 loss in the ODI series from being 2-1 up and then a 1-2 defeat in the Test series meant Pakistan started entertaining the idea of securing the services of the non-Asian coach to get the side back into a mental shape to tackle India in this Asia Cup series.

8216;8216;I think you will find that this is not going to be a revenge match. There are far too many games ahead of the two sides this year to talk about such things as revenge or grudge matches,8217;8217; he said. 8216;8216;Sure Pakistan remained stunned by the defeat in the two series, and they were unable to capitalise in Lahore where they lost the limited-overs8217; series.8217;8217;

He did admit though that each time the two teams clashed 8216;8216;it gets emotional and the players are all too aware of the occasion8217;8217;, but Pakistan were also looking further ahead in this particular tournament than Sunday8217;s game.

Yet even after three weeks in the Pakistan camp, Woolmer is doing his bit to not only fit in, but also figuring out the Pakistan psyche and what makes it tick.

This is after he stressed the importance of match plans and general strategies. Listening to him 8212; the buzz phrases are 8216;8216;team goals8217;8217; and 8216;8216;long-term strategy8217;8217; 8212; it is all a matter of looking ahead with the Asia Cup being the first step in Pakistan8217;s rehabilitation programme.

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As was the case when he took over South Africa and the side was severely manhandled on their first tour of Pakistan in October 1994, Woolmer has set goals for himself and the side. 8216;8216;It is a question of regaining confidence and becoming more competitive,8217;8217; he says. 8216;8216;I8217;m not about to divulge the plans as it would give away too much, but to move forward we need to be more competitive. The players are aware of it and are aware of the goals we have set ourselves for the next twelve months. We8217;ll take it a game at a time and try and adapt as we move along.8217;8217;

The game against India, while not 8216;8216;just another game on tour8217;8217;, does have some significance in this tournament; it is seen as the start of a new journey. Pakistan want to learn from the history of mistakes of the defeats by India and move forward from that point. Failure to do so will see the side stagnate and that is what Woolmer wants to avoid.