Miandad offers to help Woolmer

Former Pakistan coach Javed Miandad has promised to support his successor Bob Woolmer despite being acrimoniously sacked from the post last month.

"Woolmer and I share a long-time friendship and since he sought my advice I invited him for a dinner last night and we exchanged thoughts over coaching Pakistan," Miandad said.

"Our aim is the same - to move Pakistan cricket forward."

Miandad said he would always be ready to offer his advice in future. Woolmer has indicated he wants to keep Miandad as a member of his back-room team.

"I was hurt at the manner my contract was terminated but I have always put the acrimony behind me and have worked for the sake of the country," said Miandad, whose three tenures as Pakistan coach have ended prematurely.

"I am not the coach but I will be there as part of the coaching team."

Pakistan Cricket Board last month replaced Miandad with former England batsman and South Africa coach Woolmer in an overhaul of the national team's coaching set-up.

Woolmer, who joined Pakistan's tune up camp for this month's Asia Cup in Sri Lanka last week, was prompt to acknowledge Miandad's contribution.

"I would like Miandad to be on the board because he has a lot to do with this team, he has respect and his advice would be helpful," Woolmer said.

The 47-year-old Miandad, who played county cricket in England with Woolmer, wished him success.

"I hope the players listen to him and (Woolmer) succeeds in coaching because there are no secrets involved," said Miandad, who holds Pakistan's record for Test appearances with 124 and remains his country's record run-scorer in Tests with 8,832 runs.

Pakistan's first round exit from the World Cup last year forced the PCB to dump eight senior players and appointed Miandad the coach and Rashid Latif captain.