Owais Mughal
Former Australian cricketer Geoff Lawson has been named as the new coach of Pakistan’s national cricket team. Probably an old news by now; but we still want to have a discussion on it.
In the photo above Geoff Lawson is seen shaking hands with Mudassar Nazar after his job interview in Bhurban, Pakistan on June 18, 2007
This particular job opening in Pakistan created an unprecedented interest among the Australians and three of them viz. Dave Whatmore, Richard Done and Geoff Lawson applied for it. Geoff Lawson emerged as the winning candidate and his appointment was announced by the PCB on July 16, 2007. Lawson, has been awarded a two-year contract which is open for renewal, is expected to take charge from Aug 15, 2007.
Talking about Lawson’s appointment, PCB chief Naseem Ashraf said:
“We want a coach who can take Pakistan to the 2011 World Cup”.
Geoff Lawson had this to say about the position:
“It is such a talented squad they have over there (in Pakistan)…When you look at the class of players they have, you just have to be excited about being involved with them…hopefully, I will bring a fresh approach to the coaching of Pakistan team. Personally, I have analysed a lot of international cricket and will bring in some fresh ideas”.
Lawson is Pakistan’s third foreign coach and succeeds Bob Woolmer who died during the World Cup campaign in the Caribbean last March.
Lawson’s appointment has not been witout controversy though. Some of Pakistan’s former cricketers are not happy. Intikhab Alam and Sarfraz Nawaz are two of them. We can either consider their remarks credible or drop them as cases of ‘sour grapes’ but I do want to quote words of former cricketer, captain and coach of Pakistan, Javed Miandad, who said:
“I am baffled. Even if you want to hire a foreigner, then why not do it on merit? If merit is the benchmark then Whatmore knows subcontinental teams better than Lawson. Why bring a foreigner when you have your own former players? Our coming generations will now know only about Lawsons and Woolmers and will forget their own players. Teams like Zimbabwe, Bangladesh and Canada need a foreign coach because they don’t have their own former players, not India and Pakistan who have many great players.”
Geoff Lawson however, seems to have good support from current Pakistani players and that is important. Pakistan captain Shoaib Malik has welcomed Lawson’s appointment. Fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has also welcomed the decision and said:
“I am excited that he is coming to Pakistan, it’s thrilling. He can lift us to that level where we can become world beaters. I have always loved the Australian mentality. They only play to win and even if they lose they put up their best till the end. I am confident that Lawson will help us beat Australia because he will know their weaknesses and strong points.”
And here at ATP we want to wish good luck to both Pakistani team as well as Geoff Lawson on their new journey together.
Adnan, Hope you are right. Let us hope it all works out in the end.
It wont make any difference on any Pakistan team, whether its cricket or hockey or anyother. They will continue to perform in the same inconsistent manner. The root cause to all problems in Pakistan is lack of professionalism.
The opinion of Sarfraz Nawaz? :D, the sporting clown of century did you ever heard anything positive from him or about him?
It is a shame. Sarfaraz Nawaz was threatening court action on Geo Super the other day and Miandad seems unable to comprehend that a coach needs not only experience as a player but training as a coach as well. This argument that ‘former players’ should be preferred for a coaching job is nonsense.Is John Buchanan a former Australian great? Was Bob Woolmer a legendary English player? Are Tom Moody or Dav Whatmore former greats? But they have all distinguished themselves as great COACHES.If Miandad (who I respect greatly) wanted the job,he cannot claim to be a worthy candidate because he has had three chances to prove himself.
Lawson seems to be a good choice for several reasons:
1) He is undoubtedly a good thinker of the game.He captained both Steve Waugh and Mark Taylor,and reportedly influenced them greatly.’Nuff said.
2) He brings the Australian mentality to Pakistan cricket;so far we have experienced the South African and Pakistani styles of coaching.An aggressive mentality would help us.
3) Being a former fast bowler,he is better equipped than any former batsman to handle Pakistan’s bowling resources.His proteges include Stuart Clark and Nathan Bracken – both have been performing very well over the past year or so.
4) He seems to be genuinely excited about this job.The sceptics might call it acting,and it may be,but at least he has expressed enthusiasm.
I think he is a good choice. It is important to see and feel the hunger in any candidate you interview for the job and Lawson definitely had more of it than Whatmore. And that alone could make the difference.
Miandad is one of the great cricketing minds around but, just like Gavaskar, he has turned into an astute politician. He definitely sees an opportunity lost here. Especially given how his pet Amir Sohail has been speaking for him in the media.