Tamashbeen

I feel sorry for the poor guy. But more than that I find this very very funny. Actually, hilarious.

Adil Najam

I write this post in dedication to Bob Woolmer – Pakistan cricket coach and England Test player who died in mysterious circumstances four years ago yesterday (March 18). I write it also in the shadows of the memory of what was possibly Pakistan’s most humiliating defeat in World Cup cricket – to Ireland in the 2007 World Cup. Most of all, I write it in anticipation of what could turn out to be the single most important match for Pakistan in the 2011 World Cup – against Australia – which starts shortly. I write this post wondering, once again (here and here) just how far Pakistan will go in this World Cup?

This is the third in our series of ATP Polls on Pakistan’s prospects in the 2011 Cricket World Cup. Given that Pakistan is already in the Quarter Finals, we have taken that option out this time. In our first ATP Poll with this question (taken at the beginning of the tournament) 15% had thought that Pakistan would not even make it to the Quarter-Finals, 30% had said Pakistan would reach the Quarter-Finals, but not go beyond that, and 26% had said that Pakistan would actually win the World Cup. The second ATP Poll with this same question was taken right as Pakistan won its group game against Sri Lanka. Not surprisingly, the sentiments had changed: only 2% now felt that Pakistan would be out before getting to the Quarter-Finals and only 11% felt that we would reach but lose in the Quarter-Finals; nearly half of all respondents thought Pakistan would actually win the World Cup! 

So, that was then. What do you think now? What will happen beyond today!

Adil Najam

(This post was first published at ATP on March 20, 2007 – two days after Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died in mysterious circumstances during the 2007 World Cup played in the West Indies. Today, on his fourth death anniversary – as Pakistan plays in another World Cup – we believe that it is not just fitting to remember Bob Woolmer but the idea of honoring him with a permanent monument remains an idea worth resurrecting.)

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.