Lawson in for a hard time

[King]

Three former Pakistan captains have criticised the appointment of Geoff Lawson as new coach. More... Lawson in for a hard time July 16 2007 at 11:53PM Karachi - Former Pakistan captains Javed Miandad, Intikhab Alam and Zaheer Abbas criticised the national board on Monday for choosing another foreign coach in Geoff Lawson. "How can you expect a foreigner to have the same feeling of patriotism or nationalism that a Pakistani does? Instead of bringing in foreigners the board should first try to improve the grass-root cricket level," Miandad said. Australian Lawson was confirmed as the new coach by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) earlier on Monday, succeeding former England international Bob Woolmer who died of suspected heart failure during the World Cup in the West Indies in March. "If these foreign coaches can give a guarantee that the team will achieve a certain level of performance, fine. Otherwise it is a waste of money for me," added Miandad, who appeared in 124 Tests and was coach of the senior team for three terms. 'I have nothing against him'Under Woolmer, Pakistan went out in the first round of the World Cup after losing to Ireland. Intikhab, who was manager-cum-coach when Pakistan won the 1992 World Cup in Australia, said Lawson was in for a tough time. "I have nothing against him but he should be prepared for a lot of criticism and a hard time," said Intikhab. "The board should first try to find out if we really need a foreign coach and than take a decision. I believe some of our players are equally good and capable of delivering results as they have done in the past." Lawson's appointment was announced by the PCB after a meeting of its ad-hoc committee on Monday but the news had already been given to Australian media by the new coach himself. "What was the purpose of having the meeting if the board had already taken a decision?" Zaheer asked. "I worked as manager with Woolmer and I can say our own players are equally good."

[King]

There you go, speak of future pressure. Right on the day of Lawson's appointment people are starting to bi**h and moan.

[kumble_rocks]

So what else is new. The only guy whose comment is missing is Sarfraz Bakwas. Miandad has no shame whatsoever. This guy has been a proven failure , ,sacked three times as Pakistan coach. Zaheer has a manager has been abject failure. Moron should not speak , period. BTW, I still remember Steve Waugh and Taylor speaking highly of Lawson during his tint with NSW. I think PCB missed a trick here by not hiring Whatmore just like India did due to player pressure. But having said that , Lawson may not be a bad choice either.

[King]

Why are Pakistan x-Cricketers against any decision PCB takes all the time? Is it because they are jealous or something? I remember Abdul Qadir openly saying the Pakistan bowlers were ball tamperers. Every X-Cricketer including the likes of Imran, Akram Waqar and the rest never quite liked aligning with PCB. Is it because PCB don't care about the X-Cricketers and don't given them an opportunity to involve in running of cricket? There surely must be something wrong. For haven's sake Lawson hasn't even taken charge yet. Lest give him a little time to acclimatize.

[Donny]

"How can you expect a foreigner to have the same feeling of patriotism or nationalism that a Pakistani does?" Miandad said. So, Javed, where is your 'patriotism/nationalism' ? A comment such as that might have had some relevance before Lawson was appointed. Saying that sort of thing, now, is simply counter productive. Did it even cross your mind to perhaps welcome the new coach and even offer to help him with any cultural or language difficulties he may encounter ? "If these foreign coaches can give a guarantee that the team will achieve a certain level of performance, fine." What an unbelievably stupid statement. :whatchutalkingabout

[beetle]

These ex-pak cricketers make our ex -cricketers look good .......:whatchutalkingabout

[Predator_05]

These ex-pak cricketers make our ex -cricketers look good .......:whatchutalkingabout

Not really. Vengsarkar and co. expressed similar sentiments when Wright was appointed. What was the quote...i believe it was something along the lines of, "Only an Indian coach can understand what is going through the mind of an Indian cricketer out there on the pitch". Seriously, how hypocritical can you get ? and don't even get me started on that ch*thiya Kapil Dev. By the end of Wright's tenure he was asked by some journalist to give his opinion on the Kiwi coach. Kapil replied; "Who is John Wright ? This name means nothing to me". What a "grade-A" f@ggot. Judging by statements like these, sometimes i think Indian cricket deserves to be knee-deep in sh*t. The establishment is always against the coach and the captain - how can the team progress under such conditions ?

[Holysmoke]

11 coaches in 10 years. How long will this one last?

[Chandan]

I think comments like these should be ignored without paying any attention to them!!

[King Tendulkar]

Whose comments are you refering to???

[yoda]

Kapil replied; "Who is John Wright ? This name means nothing to me". What a "grade-A" f@ggot.

who cares what he thinks about john wright. that f@ggot's the biggest winner the country has produced in the cricketing arena.

[ali0786]

Whose comments are you refering to???

comments from ex-pak cricketers, they dont mean anything at all to anyone

[King]

Lawson invites Miandad to help him in coaching Pakistan's newly-appointed coach Geoff Lawson wants Javed Miandad, one of the harshest critics of foreign coaches, to be part of his support staff. More... Lawson invites Miandad to help him in coaching PTI MELBOURNE, July 19: Pakistan's newly-appointed coach Geoff Lawson wants Javed Miandad, one of the harshest critics of foreign coaches, to be part of his support staff. "I would like to get Javed on board to be part of the coaching crew, to be part of the system and help out, because he was an outstanding player and a tough bloke as well. We could do with a few of those characteristics," Lawson said. Miandad unleashed a barrage of criticism over the appointment of another foreign coach. Lawson, however, feels that the former Test great had much to offer to Pakistan cricket. "I'm hoping to talk to all those people and see what contributions they can make. We can't control outside influences but it would be good if we could have some of those outside influences being positive," Lawson was quoted as saying in The Australian . Lawson said hiring foreign coaches had become a trend in the sporting world. "In the contemporary era of any professional sport, people just want the personnel who are going to do the best for the team." "In soccer, the world game, how many teams are actually coached by someone from their own country?" Lawson said. Miandad had criticised the selection of Lawson as coach, saying foreign coaches are a waste of money and they cannot have the same feeling of patriotism as a Pakistani.

[King]

Miandad ready to work with Lawson The former Pakistan captain softened his stance on newly-appointed coach Geoff Lawson, saying he has 'no ego' hassles in working with the Australian. More... Miandad ready to work with Lawson July 19, 2007 15:49 IST Former Pakistan captain and coach Javed Miandad softened his stance on newly-appointed coach Geoff Lawson, saying he has "no ego" hassles in working with the Australian, who wants him to be a part of "coaching crew". Miandad, who had lashed out at the Pakistan Cricket Board for hiring the Australian and also described him as an "average" player, mellowed down after Australian media reported Lawson as saying that he would like to seek the three-time national coach's inputs for the job. "My top priority has always been Pakistan cricket and if Lawson wants my advice or help, and if ever he wants me to work with him, I have no ego problems doing that," he said. Miandad, who played against Lawson in eight Tests between 1982 and '84, had earlier said, "I am not keen for a job but our own players can do a better job than foreigners." Lawson had told The Australian: "I'd like to get Javed on board to be part of the coaching crew, to be part of the system and help out, because he was an outstanding player and a tough bloke as well. "We could do with a few of those characteristics among the guys at the moment. "I'm hoping to talk to all those people and see what contributions they can make. We can't control outside influences but it would be good if we could have some of those outside influences being positive." Miandad said Lawson's positive remarks about him and other players was an apt reply to the way the Board had treated its own people during the selection process for a new coach. "What Lawson has said it shows that our Board also needs to learn to respect its former players and not treat them as second grade citizens," he said. Miandad said even when Bob Woolmer [Images] was appointed coach he was always available for the country. "I had also told Bob if ever he wanted my help he could give me a call. As far as my personal opinion about the Board's policy of appointing foreign coaches is concerned it remains there." Asked if he would consider the possibility of working as a specialist batting coach, Miandad said, "It is premature to say anything on it. There is no such offer at the moment so I would only think about it if there is any possibility in the future."

[King]

There you go. All Miandad wanted was a little pampering and some importance. Smart chap Lawson, he's now made Miandad feel a little important and Miandad now has softened his stance about Lawson.

[King]

I don't quite know what Miandad's ranting about but when he was a coach he could have done some working right? I didn't really seem him achieve much as a coach and I don't reckon how he is going to change that.

[kumble_rocks]

What a joker this Miandad is ! Foolish fella is detrimental to Pak Cricket. I can't believe that this pathetic human being who has been fired thrice still opines about Pak cricket.

[MundaPakistani]

Great news! Javed as a head coach would not have been a bad option but even as an adviser he should do a good job! p.s Do any of you agree with me that this job of a national team coach is very overrated? because IMO the under 19 or an under 17 team coach has a more important role than a national team coach yet no one even knows their names.

[gator]

Great news! Javed as a head coach would not have been a bad option but even as an adviser he should do a good job! p.s Do any of you agree with me that this job of a national team coach is very overrated? because IMO the under 19 or an under 17 team coach has a more important role than a national team coach yet no one even knows their names.

i agree with u... u need a good video analyst like the one India has had for a looong time.... Ramki sells our software to english and aussie teams too, from wat i hear... and i think, the whole team has to watch the videos of opposition to work out the strategy and the captain decides in the end and to correct individual flaws, u should have specialised consultants for bowling, batting and fielding to fine tune and prevent flaws creeping into the technique...

[King]

I agree the coach's role is way over rated. In fact I've been saying this since years. Yes you need assistance at times but you don't need a coach on a daily basis. There is no way in the world you can correct something with a snap of a finger. The best coach is the first coach IMO. The first coach remembers your best and worst habits. If you need assistance you need to go back to your first coach. That sure will pay good dividends.