Adil Najam
Robert (Bob) Andrew Woolmer, most recently the Head Coach for the Pakistan cricket team died of a massive heart attack in Jamaica earlier today. He was born on May 14, 1948, in Kanpur India, played 19 tests and 6 one day internationals for England and was amongst the first in a generation of ‘super coaches’ in international cricket.
His tenure as Pakistan’s cricket coach was a particularly tumultuous one, especially recently. Its lowest point was yesterday when Pakistan – under his coaching – lost miserably to Ireland. This was a massive blow for the Pakistan team, people and obviously for Bob Woolmer. The massive heart attack he suffered today ultimately took his life.
According to BBC News:
Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer has died after being discovered in his Jamaica hotel room on Sunday morning. The 58-year-old former South Africa coach, who played for England between 1975-81, was found unconscious at the Pegasus Hotel at 1045 local time.
He was taken to the emergency ward of the nearby University hospital but did not regain consciousness. Pakistan were eliminated from the World Cup on Saturday after losing by three wickets to minnows Ireland. Woolmer told BBC Radio Five Live after the Ireland match that he was considering his future in the game.
“My contract runs out on 30 June anyway but I want to sleep on it before I make a decision about my future,” he said on Saturday evening. “I have said I am reluctant to continue in international cricket purely because of all the travelling but I will stay in cricket at a different level. “But I think the decision has been made for me really. I will talk to the PCB and if they want me to stay until 30 June I will stay, if they want me to go I will go.
“I am not going to break my contract but if the PCB want to get rid of me that is their business.” Pakistan’s preparations for the World Cup have been far from ideal, which Woolmer also alluded to. Following the infamous forfeited Test against England at The Oval last summer, two of their leading fast bowlers Shoaib Akhtar and Mohammad Asif, were suspended after failing doping tests.
A great loss to cricket. The pair later saw those bans rescinded but missed the World Cup because of injury, something Woolmer admitted had hindered the team. “There are a number of extenuating circumstances in the last six months that have made coaching Pakistan slightly different to normal sides,” he said. “Those are the things I would have to consider and those things would have to change if I was to continue.”
According to an Associated Press report on reaction in Pakistan:
Pakistan Cricket Board chairman Naseem Ashraf said Bob Woolmer’s death was a “a loss for the cricketing world.” “He was a thorough gentleman who instilled team spirit in the team,” Ashraf told Pakistani private channel Geo Television. “He was a very popular personality in our cricket team.”
Ashraf said Woolmer had informed him that he had breathing problems during sleep at night and was also diabetic. “He informed me this just before the team departed for the West Indies and I told him ‘take care of yourself Bob’,” Ashraf said. “But Woolmer told me it was nothing new for him as he wore mask during sleeping.” Ashraf said that when he spent some days in Jamaica with the team, he thought Woolmer was perfectly alright.
“I am very sad and I think he took stress after Pakistan lost to Ireland,” said former test cricketer Hanif Mohammad. Pakistan’s injured fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar, who was sidelined for the World Cup, described Woolmer’s death as a “big tragedy.” “I am very sad,” Akhtar told Geo television. “It’s a very big tragedy and I am completely in a shock.
“Before leaving for the West Indies, we met each other, we both hugged each other and we shared lots of thoughts. “He used to call me ‘Son.’ My whole sympathies are with his family.” Akhtar, under a doping cloud after testing positive for nandrolone last year, has long struggled with how to manage his express pace and avoid injuries. “I have learnt a lot from him. He tried his best to coach us professionally,” Akhtar said. “He was very fun-loving and I can’t believe he could pass like that.”
Former coach Javed Miandad, Woolmer’s immediate predecessor as coach, said that the former England test batsman tried his best for the Pakistan team. “It’s shocking news and I am very sad too,” Miandad said. “I have played cricket with him in the Kerry Packer era and when he took over I hosted him at home and informed him about the Pakistan team.”
I think he was a passionate man who was really sincere
with pakistani team and really wanted to see them on the victory stand. Hundreds of people are posting condolence
messages on different websites,it proves how well he was
accepted by pakistanis.
His family should know how much we appreciate his service to our country.
Bob Woolmer’s tragic death seems to be the culmination of the most tumultous period in Pakistan cricket. It also puts the game in to perspective for all of us.
I met Bob in Barabados a couple of years ago. I was down there with some friends to watch Pakistan play the Windies. After three days of the test match, the Pakistan team was down and out and staring defeat in the face. That night we were out having dinner at a local seaside restaurant. Just as we sat down we noticed that Bob was having dinner there with two other people (perhaps his wife and son). He was just finishing up and as he got up to leave I turned around and said “Hey Bob” without really knowing how we would respond. To our surprise, he walked over and started talking to us in an extremely friendly and casual manner. We talked for about 5-10 minutes in which he expressed regret for the performance in that particular test match but said that “we will win the second test in Jamaica and tie the series”. He also, surprisingly, told us about the fight between Younis and Afridi in the dressing room at the end of the first day’s play. That was well before that story was picked up by the press. He then talked about the mental fragility of the Pakistan team and how an episode like that caused the individuals in the team to go in to their own individual corner. He then clinched his fist to signify how the team comes together when they are playing India. We wished him luck, thanked him for his good work with the Pakistani team and promised to show up the next day to cheer the team on. He thanked us for the support. The next day Pakistan lost but not before Afridi entertained us with a century.
Bob was clearly passionate about cricket, very approachable and understood the mental challenges of the Pakistan team. What we were suprised by was his willingness to discuss openly what was clearly a controversial dressing room issue. And there in probably lies one reason why he had some trouble with the cricket structure in Pakistan where most controversial issues are swept under the rug.
While I felt that it was time for the Pakistan team and Bob Woolmer to go their separate ways it was not because of any short comings on his part. I think he made a tremendous impact in the first two years of his tenure. The Pakistan team showed spine – Akmal and Razzaq in Mohali, Malik’s match saving century in Sri Lanka and Asif’s match winning performance in the same series, Akmal’s match winning inning against India at Karachi, the victory against England at Multan, the fightback against India first with the series tying victory at Bangalore and then the come-from-behind 4-2 win in the ODIs. The home series against England was probably the high point of Bob’s tenure. The slide in Pakistan’s fortunes over the last year probably had more to do with Inzamam and the manner in which he seemed to marginalize Bob’s role – especially since the England tour last summer.
Bob’s tenure saw the emergence of Younis, Yousuf, Malik, Asif, Gul, Kaneria, and Akmal (who despite his recent troubles has a fair amount of talent). What he was unable to produce was a reliable opening pair and any other middle order batsmen to take over from the Big-Three. Nevertheless, his contribution was substantial and his legacy to Pakistan cricket will be some of these players that he helped nurture and develop.
Above all, as I learnt through my own personal interaction, Bob was a good man. His passing the day after one of the worst losses of his career is a cruel twist of fate. But he will be remembered for all the great things he accomplished in cricket all around the world. Bob – We will miss you. Rest in peace.
I was really sad yesterday at Pakistan’s exit from the WC but today I feel totally crestfallen at the sad news of Bob Woolmer’s tragic death. He was a true gentleman and the most soft spoken guy in the world of Cricket. He will be sorely missed. I hope PCB can immortalize him in some way. Rest in Peace Bob. Heart felt condolences to his family and friends.
It is a very sad day for Pakistan. But I am sure it is nothing in comparision to what his poor family going through.
Ah, when to the heart of man
Was it ever less than a treason
To go with the drift of things,
To yield with a grace to reason,
And bow and accept the end
Of a love or a season?
R.I.P Bobby. We’re sorry we were so judgmental about you and never gave you enough credit for the good work you did, we hope you’ll forgive us.
Inzi,
Thanks for being brave and accepting the consequences of your team’s performances, your leadership may not have been the best in the world, and it certainly cost Pakistan on a few occasions, but even with your limited innate captaincy talent you still gave Pakistan Cricket some very fond memories, I’ll never forget the 2-1 wins against England last year, and the draw in India against all odds. Those two series will be your lasting legacy. And I’ve forever regarded you as the best batsmen Pakistan has ever produced. You’ll be sorely missed. Good luck with the rest of your test career, and may we find a good replacement for you.