It is always interesting and sometimes frightening when you enter new territory. Indeed, it is a new experience. As the new coach of Pakistan, the Asia Cup will mean some hard work, some keen observation as to how 'my new team' will perform.
The expectations of the Pakistan public too and the interest of some of world cricket's keenest followers will be centred on Pakistan's performance in Sri Lanka over the next few weeks. Of course, this is all part of the fun that we all have as cricketers, cricket-lovers, and coaches.
As I write this article I have as much nerves and expectations as the players who perform. The key is how one controls those nerves and focuses on the role ahead.
My first meeting with the Pakistani team could not have gone better. The Pakistan National Cricket Academy is a superb facility and will be the envy of many cricket nations. The players were keen and ready for anything I could throw at them. It was an elevating experience. Now we have to turn the words into actions and deeds.
The Asia Cup is a good competition, giving an opportunity to two minnow nations, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates. Of course, I know the UAE very well as they were part of the ICC's High Performance programme I was involved with before I left for Pakistan.
The UAE are potentially a very exciting unit; they have some fine attacking batsmen and some good spin bowlers. Their fitness and fielding were their main weak points, but I know Abid Ali (the UAE coach) was working hard on this aspect.
Hong Kong are an unknown quantity at present, so I will be very interested in seeing how they are progressing. The good thing is that these associate countries of the ICC are being given an opportunity to do well.
So what of the main competition?
Sri Lanka are at the moment playing tough opposition, so they will be well conditioned and up for this competition. Muthiah Muralitharan will be back and at home they will be very tough to beat.
India are in my book favourites for this competition with a stunning array of batsmen and ever-improving bowlers and with greater fitness and desire levels than ever before. Bangladesh too are showing under Dav Whatmore a new skill and fitness level and they have played some very good cricket recently and pushed Pakistan hard in the series last year in Pakistan.
All in all, we will expect some great cricket.
On a personal note, I will be keen to observe all this at first hand and rekindle my knowledge of the game and how it is moving forward. It is only when you have direct experience that you are really able to make progress.
The weather is cool for Sri Lanka, but still very warm if you are not used to this heat. I am grateful that we trained before the series in extremely hot and humid weather in Lahore before we came, so at least we are acclimatized to the weather.
The pitches at the Sinhalese Sports Club look excellent and I shall be watching the Bangladesh-Hong Kong game with interest. As I said earlier, Hong Kong are an unknown quantity, so it will be well worth studying them before we have to play them.
Sri Lanka is a great place and the public is very keen on the game. I am looking forward to the series immensely and let's hope it provides quality entertainment for all those watching.
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