Pakistan found wanting without key players

KINGSTON, Jamaica, Mar 18 (Reuters) Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer continually stressed that he had a good enough side to be very competitive at the World Cup, but the truth told in the end.

Without injured bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif and deprived of all-rounders Abdul Razzaq and Shahid Afridi, the Pakistan squad simply lacked quality.

The longer Woolmer tried to argue that his side could go on to trouble the likes of champions Australia, the nearer the moment of truth came.

Even Ireland coach Adrian Birrell knew his side had a terrific opportunity, though the South African was too smart to admit it publicly before their three-wicket victory at Sabina Park yesterday.

''We played against the 11 players that went onto the field, obviously they were under-strength but we said if there was ever a chance that we could upset them it was St. Patrick's Day,'' Birrell told reporters.

''We won the toss, we had tremendous support and we beat the best 11 that Pakistan could put out and that's all we can play against.'' Englishman Woolmer said about as much as he could say, falling short of an outright acknowledgement that he wished those players were in the Caribbean.

''It's a hypothetical question and something I can't answer,'' he said. ''Assuming those bowlers were fit and we won the toss (maybe we could have won) but we can't make excuses.

''I thought we had a very good team here, we just haven't played as well as we should have done. We deserve to take stick because we haven't performed and it's as simple as that.

''We're sorry that we performed like we did, we didn't mean to, but credit should be given to Ireland.'' Pakistan's nervousness was quite visible when they began their innings on a tricky batting pitch and they stumbled to 132 all out.

Having lost the tournament opener to hosts West Indies it was a must-win match against a team of part-time professionals who knew they were under no pressure in their first World Cup.

With explosive hitters Razzaq and Afridi in their ranks and Asif and Shoaib itching to get the ball in their hands, there is little doubt that Pakistan would have been better equipped to deal with the situation.

REUTERS SAM BST1441