Adil Najam
Like so many others, I feel that we Pakistanis need to honor Bob Woolmer’s contribution to Pakistan cricket, to memorialize his tragic death, and celebrate his talented life. I believe that a good way to do so would be to rename National Stadium, Karachi, and call it the Woolmer Stadium.
The outpouring of emotions and affection for deceased Pakistan cricket coach, Bob Woolmer, is not surprising in its content, but certainly in its intensity. Pakistanis everywhere - and even those few who are not cricket fans - have been visibly shaken and shocked by his sudden death immediately after Pakistan lost to unrated and untested Ireland and kicked itself out of the 2007 World Cup Cricket.Political events at home right before his death - including the removal of the Chief Justice, the supression of protesting lawyers, the clamping down on the media, etc. - had already made for national discontent. The unravelling of the country’s beloved sport with the defeat against Ireland, Woolmer’s death, Inzimam’s retirement and PCB Chairman Nasim Ashraf’s resignation seems to have only added to a sense of national anguish, anger and angst.
Pakistanis have rallied to Bob Woolmer’s memory not just because of its tragic timing, but also for its symbolism. Amidst all of the shattered hopes, broken promises and fallen heroes, he has emerged as a - possibly the only - symbol of integrity of cause and decency of character. Given how tense and lonely his last many months in Pakistan had been, one only wishes that we had showered similar love and gratitude on him whilst he was alive.
The one thing that everyone seems to be craving for (and demanding) is to memorialize this moment as a reminder not only of how he died but as a celebration of how he lived and served Pakistan. Some have chosen to pay him tribute in poem. Many have written testaments of affection, respect and regret. Cricket discussion boards have been abuzz, many - if not all - are saying that we should find some way to honor him. Suggestions have been made for giving him a civil award, building a monument, naming a road or a stadium, etc. There is even a petition that has been launched for this purpose.
- National Stadium, Karachi, is one of two most important cricket grounds in Pakistan and naming it for Woolmer would be a fitting tribute to him.
- Unlike ‘Gaddafi’ Stadium in Lahore, National Stadium is not really names after any person, and will therefore not need to be ‘un-named.’ Other options could be to name the Rawalpindi Stadium after him, but that may not remain a Test venue for long. While a new stadium is planned for Islamabad, one is never sure when and whether it will actually be built.
- We at ATP have long felt that we as a nation do not honor the individuals who make a difference (e.g., here and here). We are especially lax at memorializing non-Pakistanis who have made important contributions (also here). Doing so for Woolmer would not only honor him, but it may also teach us the virtue of doing so; and, hopefully, doing so before it is too late. Hopefully, it may even set a trend for honoring others, some who may even deserve these honors even more and are still alive!
There are, obviously, other ways in which one could pay tribute to Bob Woolmer. Some are outlined in the petition that I have already mentioned. In the end, what matters is that we do something - whatever it may be - and do so soon. To honor him now is also a way of soothing our own grief; dealing with our own guilt (was it, indeed, our needlessly pronounced passions for the game that caused this?).
Alternatively, one could name the road in front of the stadium after him. That would not be a bad option, but would it be enough?
To name the stadium is to ensure that we will think of him, of what he did, and of what happened to him, each time there is a series in Pakistan. And long after the wounds of the defeat against Ireland have been forgotten, cricket commentators will explain the name of the stdium to their audiences by reminding that that no one should take a game - any game - any more seriously than just a game.
This is probably the worst idea that has come from ATP in the recent days.
Gaddafi stadium was named after him because;
a) he was alive,
b) he had international importance,
c) he graced the nation in ways,
d) he is a Muslim personality,
e) he gave Pakistan aid.
Faisal Mosque was named after him because;
a) he was alive,
b) he had international importance,
c) he graced the nation in ways,
d) he was a Muslim personality,
e) he funded the contruction!
Bob Woolmer Stadium should not be named after him because;
a) he isn’t alive,
b) he has no international importance,
c) he hasn’t graced the nation in anyways except coach the Cricket team,
d) he is NOT a Muslim personality,
e) he couldn’t even fund his stay in Lahore,
f) his death IS a testament to the shambolic performances our Nation Cricket Team can produce, with ‘devastating results’! We certianly want to remember him for all this. For losing out to Ireland, and West Indies, in a game that was probably the best thing we could do as a group. We dont want people to remember us for all this, do we?
g) Everytime a gora dies because of us, we name a building after him, “Hey! how about naming a building after Daniel Pearl, Or those French Engineers that died to a lame ass suicide bomber at Pearl Continental Karachi!?”
I totally despise the idea, tells me more about how we still believe goras are anyways more memorializable than Pakistani’s… find a Pakistani, ATP, that has died in the recent past and has had a positive impact on the nation. Emotion is the first thing we need to get rid of while making decisions or suggestion anything. And, no, PCB is not responsible for stadium naming, its the Ministry of Sports and Culture, FYI.
Actually, the old crew (Imran, Wasim, Waqar, Rameez, etc) have not grounds but enclosures named after them right now. I think Govt. of Pakistan should give Woolmer a civil award and name some sort of academy scheme for budding cricketer after him.
names
Gaddafi stadium = Imran Khan Stadium
National Stadium= Miandad stadium
Multan stadium = Inzimam stadium
Peshawar shud remain= Arbab Niaz St.
rawalpindi st= Wasim waqar stadium
Sialkot st= zaheer Abbas st.
newly islamabad stadium = wolmer st
that will really pay homage to above all!!
goodness gracious! not even they have a Don Bradman st or a tendulkar st!!! this is
He was so contentious now hes no more in this world suddenly everyone is favoring him “teri yaad aye teray janay k baad” had he not died (i wish-not all wishes come true) then he would have been sacked,no tributes been paid nor it had been a topic here! But media with all its glory just picks up what serves it!
Its sad he lost his life for the game of cricket he loved the most!he went for cricket!!!!forgod sake!its just a game!
mourn a death dun make it an issue! check the players overhaul the system!
I agree with Pakistanian that the National Cricket Academy should probably be named after Mr Woolmer since he was a coach. I am totally against naming CRICKET stadiums on past or present Arab kings/dictators no matter what their contribution to the country. I would much rather have a Telenor/Mobilink/ABN AMRO Stadium, with a full blown multi-million dollar rights contract whose funds are used to improve the facilities and actually provide a world class venue for the sport in every major city. What tiny island nations of the Carribean have shown with local pride to the world as far as beautiful facilities and cricket stadiums should put our heads to shame.
Cricket Administrators in Pakistan need to get their heads out of their behinds and use the remaining goodwill for cricket in Pakistan to start afresh. As it is with two disastrous World Cup campaigns and the horrendous drama and incompetence associated with Pakistan cricket, the youth will slowly but surely wean away from competitive cricket (look what happened to field hockey). The winds of the modern era are much too powerful to be countered by incompetent and morally corrupt management, and if immediate steps are not taken to improve cricket’s status quo we will be left with renting a certain Arab warrior stadium in Lahore for kabbadi tournaments or gamer’s conventions!
Just because we honor Woolmer’s memory by naming a stadium after him does not imply we are ‘dishonoring’ any locals. By all means, they should also be honored. But right now the question is about Woolmer.
I think its a good idea - name any one of the two stadiums after Woolmer. And more power to ‘net warriors’ who come up with practical ideas on what can be done!
YLH–I don’t mind a mosque named after a Saudi King since his family funded it, I do have an issue with nameing a major city after him!
Good idea; however, I frankly do not think it is realistic. I think they should do something like dedicate part of their academy or have some sort of program for training under-priveleged children and teens…this would make more sense as far as Bob Woomer’s legacy is concerned
@YLH, yeah we’ve done a lot of ad-hoc naming….although I do not mind the Saudi names since, as bad as they’ve been, they’ve saved Pakistan’s arse too many times…
If emotions are so necessary then I will name the stadium after the person who put up himself and his children ‘FOR SALE’ because of poverty.
We drawing room scholars/net warriors are not worth deciding these matters.
If by any chance you find my posts inflammatory……………They Are Meant To Be!!!