Rewriting Cricket History?

It always strikes me oddly, when people try to rewrite history after some major crisis point. It was bound to happen after Pakistan were defeated out of the World Cup by Ireland, but yet this guy, who I for sure have never heard of, has the gall to come out and say that under Bob Woolmer nothing of significance was achieved by the Pakistani side. Isn't it amazing that the team's performances against India, the home wins against England are all being discounted? The development of players like Yousuf, Younis Khan, Shoaib Malik and pacers like Umar Gul and Mohammad Asif didn't happen for this guy. All because of an England tour where injuries and controversy effected results, and a World Cup where Pakistan were just out-played. Yet, this kind of historic rewriting has no place really and is truly the mark of a band-wagon jumping mind.

He even goes on to say that Woolmer never got on with the squad. Where does he get that from? Apart from Shoaib Akhtar's antics, Shahid Afridi, Younis Khan, Asif, Shoaib Malik all got along well. Even Yousuf credits Woolmer for his development as a player, and at no point did we ever hear that Inzamam was unhappy or displeased with Woolmer's job as coach. Rewriting history is never a good thing.

The PCB's Islamometer

While OH's blog had a really funny mock interview with Inzy, that was comedy. The PCB's decision to begin examining each player through a lens of how religious they have become is not funny.

No one could truly argue that the increasing religiosity of the Pakistani team has not become a part of their character and influences how they approach the game and their life outside of the sport. Yet, to blame the bulk of the drama over the last few months on religion, is like blaming cows for global warming. The problem is not how religious the team is, or how focused their extracurricular activities are on religion. The problem is that despite 4 years in the Woolmer/Inzy era, the team was not able to inculcate a sense of professionalism and a work ethic which would allow them to succeed in the world of international cricket. The problem is that the administrators, one and all, have been a bunch of nincompoops, present company included. If you don't want to change the culture of Pakistani cricket by changing the current ad-hoc status, a moribund domestic system and a complete absence of professionalism in the players and administrators, then there is an easy fix which many like to use: blame Islam. I don't know how many times I've said this, and how many times I'll still say this: What a crock.

Don't get me wrong, I have no desire to see a team where players are excluded due to not being religious enough or not having beards long enough or because they missed fajr one cold morning. But precisely what I mean by a culture of professionalism and integrity, is what would keep that from happening. Whether or not a number of players go to Raiwind or Rabwa or Rome is completely irrelevant to the question.

Memorial for Woolmer

BBC reports on a memorial service held for Bob Woolmer in Lahore. Within the news story is also a video link to the service.

Conspiracy theories from Pakistan

A whole slew of conspiracy theories about the death of Bob Woolmer.

An ode to Bob Woolmer

From one of my favourite poetry related blogs, Jahan-e-Rumi, a poetic ode to Bob Woolmer, in just a few words.

Confirmed: Woolmer was murdered!

A sorrier day in the history of cricket is just not possible. It is confirmed. Bob Woolmer was strangled to death. I hope they catch his murderer, and he is made to pay the highest possible price for this heinous crime.

I haven't read all the articles yet, but CricInfo Blogs links to a whole bunch of articles which talk about the issue in more detail, along with its impact on the World Cup. Stay tuned here for more updates.

Woolmer awarded Sitara-e-Imtiaz

Thanks Teeth Maestro for this scoop.

Outside Help to Decipher Woolmer's Death

While I may have made the CSI comment in a previous post, in a fit of dark humour, it appears that the Jamaican police have taken that issue to heart. An American forensic pathologist has been called in to assist.

Further, it appears that the Pakistani team was not allowed to leave for Montego Bay in Jamaica, and instead, were taken to a basement, and finger printed to aid in the investigation. A lot of the players are upset that they are being targetted in this way. If this wasn't the time for Nasim Ashraf to be in the West Indies, I don't know when it would be. I am also getting no indication that consular help is being sought, but why haven't any Pakistani foreign service people gotten involved in this difficult situation?

Match fixing here again?

Until the final pathology report comes out, I think reports like this will continue to come. In this report, a PCB source is being credited as saying that Bob Woolmer's forthcoming book exposed some gambling connections to the Pakistani squad. Further, Sarfraz Nawaz, a man with more opinions than thoughts, is commenting about a theory which states that Woolmer was killed because of the forthcoming comments in his book.

I just don't know what the hell to believe anymore. I find this strange. Woolmer, above all, was a loyal man, and if he to the end continued to believe that Cronje was innocent, I think it would take a heck of a lot more than money from a book to make him give up secrets about his team in Pakistan. This makes no sense to me. For the sake of all of us, I just hope that the poor man just died a natural death.

Bob Woolmer strangled?

A fairly sensationalist report in a paper called the Jamaica Gleaner saying that there is evidence that Bob Woolmer may have been strangled. I'll let the CSI buffs out there try to figure this one out. I just can't begin to try to fathom all of this.

Pakistan considered pulling out

After hearing of the potential nature of Bob Woolmer's demise, it appears that the Pakistani team considered pulling out of the final match against Zimbabwe. That is until Mr. Fascism, or the Dr. Goebbels of Pakistani Cricket, Dr. Nasim Ashraf told them they had to play the final match. Seriously Ashraf get your head out of your butt! Could this group of players be any further traumatized? If you really are a physician, could you try showing a modicum of sympathy and respect? This preposterous ad-hoc "Chairman" was there with the team when it came to hanging out practices, and mopping up the glory, but now that the team is going through the worst time in cricket history, Mr. Ad-hoc Chairman has run away from the West Indies and is hanging out in "interior Sindh" to avoid any and all questions and responsibility at this crucial time. What a joke this guy is!

This just keeps going from bad to worse.

Bob Woolmer Murdered?

This is almost unfathomable! It appears that the Jamaican authorities are strongly seeing the death of Woolmer as not "natural" but in fact occurring in mysterious and suspicious conditions, lingo for the death being due to murder!

The News report goes on to say: "Senior sources in Jamaican police confirmed that Bob Woolmer did not die a natural death but was murdered."

It appears that the team "manager" Asad Mustafa has also commented on the matter:

"Pakistan team’s manager Asad Mustafa, who commented that the circumstances in which Woolmer was discovered were “suspicious” from the start – not only was there vomit found, there were also indications that the coach had suffered from diarrhea, his blood sugar testing machine was found on the floor in the bathroom and there was blood on his cheek and eyes."

This just keeps getting more horrible and awful by the minute.

Afridi and Shoaib express their regrets

While many have come forward to express their sympathies and reflections on the life and death of Bob Woolmer, I think some of the most interesting and heartfelt comments over the past few, harrowing days have come from people who at times have been the most harsh with Bob Woolmer. Perhaps that in death all differences fall aside, but I must say I have greater respect for both Shoaib Akhtar (Pakistan Tribune) and Shahid Afridi (The News) as individuals due to the comments they have made, and through that buried any ill will that they or their fans may have borne for Bob Woolmer. Kudos to you two for this. There are more coments from Dawn, from Younis Khan as well. It really does touch one's heart.

Shoaib Akhtar: "I cannot believe the news. We shared great moments together"

Shahid Afridi: "I’m in a shock even as I speak, this loss is just too big. In all my life I have never seen a better coach than Woolmer, he was like a father for us."

Younis Khan: "He was a friend of all the players. I used to call his wife, Gill, mom so he used to tease her that I am their third son. I know how it feels when you lose your close ones. Bob used to help each and every player and he has left a big void in Pakistan cricket"

Protests quieten in Pakistan

Now, this is something I am glad to hear. After the sombre and heart-stilling news of Bob Woolmer's death, the Pakistani masses have quietened their anger, and hopefully are reflecting on the insanity of their actions over the last few days. Each and every Pakistani, and specially the cricket fans, should reflect upon Bob Woolmer's contributions to Pakistani cricket and think about what effects the intensity of our emotions have upon our world and those who are our heroes, and the focus of our passions.

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, pakistan cricket board, bob woolmer

Tributes to Woolmer

Tributes on the death of Bob Woolmer have been coming fast over the course of the day. So far, ZR @ Sundries, as only she can do, has managed to keep track of the many tributes coming online. Many thanks to her. You can also follow it through the above link.

Update: Woolmer is Dead, Rest in Peace

Update: Word has come. Bob Woolmer has been declared dead at the hospital in Jamaica. No further details are available as of yet about cause of death etc. May he rest in peace, and may God grant his family solace in this difficult time.

While in the midst of composing an analysis of the defeat, I came across this news from Jamaica. Bob Woolmer has been found unconscious in his hotel, and taken to a hospital in Jamaica. I wish him the best, and hope that his family is able to find some solace in this difficult time.

More fallout.

Well, the match ended up after papers had already been printed in Pakistan, so not a lot of news from Pakistani newspapers as of yet. The BBC and Reuters have fairly similar reports about the response from the Pakistani side after the loss.

Woolmer in his comments, apologized for the way the team played, and further went on to say that the loss was one of the worst days in his life. As the BBC report states, along with this report in the International Herald Tribune, it is fairly certain that after this loss, there is no chance of Woolmer's contract being renewed. Further, it appears that Pakistan will see the end of Inzamam's career, as the chances of him remaining captain after the World Cup, is the same chance butter has near a plate of haleem.

To make things worse, Pakistan and Inzamam were also fined after the match for a slow over rate. As if that was needed on top of everything else. Thanks a lot ICC.

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, world cup, bob woolmer, inzamam

Should we feel sorry for Woolmer?

Its probably good for Woolmer that in 3 months he won't have to deal with all the headaches of being a Pakistani coach. In one interview, two newspapers put a fairly different spin on the same comments, putting Woolmer in a bit of a bind when it comes to Imran Nazir. First, The News essentially tried to say that Woolmer was washing his hands off the whole Imran Nazir selection.

Direct Quote: "Imran Nazir was picked by the chairman of selectors and you should ask him why he is here," Woolmer told Pakistani reporters when asked to comment on Imran Nazir failure to find form in recent matches.


Further, The News from an unnamed correspondent goes on to say that Woolmer is unhappy with Nazir, but feels stuck with no other options at the #1/#2 position. Interesting, in another report on the same interview,
Dawn is reporting, that Woolmer stressed to the reporters to try and give Nazir a chance, as Pakistan really has no other options right now with Afridi being suspended. Woolmer even went as far as challenging the reporters and saying that why should they drop Imran after one game.

While I can understand Woolmer's desire to be given some time to settle things down, Imran Nazir hasn't shown himself to be the guy who could do with some more time. I think the time has come for Woolmer to cut his losses, play Kamran Akmal at the #2 position for one game, and then plug Afridi in, as Hafeez's partner. That is the only solution which I think could even conceivably work.

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, world cup, bob woolmer, imran nazir, shahid afridi, kamran akmal

Dr. Nasim Ashraf: A Major Pain and the King of Bakwaas

So, first today there was Kamran Abbasi's post on his Cricinfo blog, and then this report in Dawn.

Two quotes:

Dawn: "Amid all this chaos, the last thing Pakistan can afford is to lose to minnows Ireland in this World Cup but with Dr Ashraf shooting from his mouth, just anything can happen."

Kamran Abbasi: "Dr Nasim Ashraf has caused more problems with his utterances in English than his players ever have"

Dr. Ashraf: Get back to Karachi, and have halwa puri with Musharraf and leave the team alone.


Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, pakistan cricket board, world cup

Akmal to open against Ireland?

Interesting thoughts from Woolmer. He appears willing to experiment for the upcoming matches against Ireland and Zimbabwe, in both the opening formats and also the lineup. I think a telling remark is the desire to have eight batsmen and six bowlers in the squad. The squad that played WI on the 13th had 7 batsmen, and 6 bowlers so not as versatile a squad as Woolmer now wants to have.

I must say, these comments sound pretty wishy-washy, "Maybe Imran Nazir will continue to open, maybe Kamran Akmal could open and Hafeez will drop down," Woolmer told reporters. "When Afridi comes back maybe he will open. At this stage one would hope that the batting lineup, which was supposed to be a strength of the side would be on firmer ground, yet that is obviously not the case.

As I have stated in earlier posts, the issue revolves around what happens with Azhar Mahmood/Yasir Arafat and Danish Kaneria and their role in the squad. The batting lineup is thin enough that Imran Nazir and Mohammad Hafeez cannot be dropped willy-nilly at this point in the game. Getting Kamran Akmal to open is a thought, as he has gotten all of his ODI 100s and 50s from the opening spot. I like OH's suggestion to maybe whack Imran Nazir and send him back to Pakistan as injured, and bring back Yasir Hameed to maybe give Pakistan some more options from the batting side.

Kamran Akmal & Mohammad Hafeez to start, with Yousuf, Inzamam and Younis, in that order, gives Pakistan a lot more authority and versatility in the top order, further I just think Hafeez is a lot more reliable than Nazir. After the top 5, Shoaib Malik and Shahid Afridi should be at 6 & 7 in whatever order, with Azhar Mahmood or Yasir Arafat at 8. The bowling can be rounded out with Gul, Rao and Naved or Sami. Keep Sami as far away as possible from this squad, and I really don't see any room for Danish in this squad.

This is not going to be easy for Woolmer.

Technorati Tags: pakistan, cricket, bob woolmer, world cup, kamran akmal, yasir hameed, imran nazir