Bob Woolmer arranges for prayer room, halal food

JAIPUR: As a part of his meticulous 2007 World Cup planning, Pakistan cricket team’s coach Bob Woolmer has already identified a place for prayers for players and arranged for halal meat in the West Indies.

Pakistan will stay and play their three Pool D league matches at the Sabina Park in Kingston, Jamaica, during the 16-nation showpiece in March-April, 2007.

Woolmer identified the mosque and arranged for ‘halal’ meat, during his visit to the West Indies to attend a managers’ meeting in Barbados last month.

“I was fortunate to go to the managers’ meeting and I could see all the plans and preparations,” Woolmer said. “We got (plans for) ‘halal’ food and prayer rooms; we worked out all things we need (during the visit).”

Woolmer was the only coach — others were all managers — from the 10 Test-playing nations to attend the meeting, while India was the only country that did not send anyone to the meeting.

Woolmer said since time would be short during the World Cup, he went there to help arrange things that would help the (Pakistan) players concentrate only on their game. “It’s important to try and get environment right for the players. That was useful for us to go over there,” he stated.

He was keen to have arrangement for collective prayers also made in the hotels during the World Cup. “The prayer room will be within the (Pakistan) team hotel.”

“In a one-day game you don’t have much (free) time; only 45 minutes (interval) really. The guys also pray separately when they want to,” the coach said.

Assuming Pakistan top their group, also comprising the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland, they will move to Guyana where they will be based for 16 days to play three Super Eight matches at the Providence Stadium.

Meanwhile, Pakistan team left Jaipur for Mohali on Thursday morning to play against New Zealand in a Group B match on October 25.

this has just done more for pk cricket than any other coach has done ever...

to arrange for halal food and a room for prayers...

Mashallah

Give him the Bonus now, he Deserves it

organization and attention to detail is why I fell in love with this man in the first place.

ahh some little public relations tricks after that unsavory business about him being behind those drug test !!!

this guy is as slick as mushy !

Kashif, does that matter? As long as he is doing the job and getting things done?

yea, god forbid a coach would want to make sure his players are clean. Anywho, I always figured thing like arranging prayer room and food and stuff was the manager's job.

If you'll note it said that Woolmer was the only coach in the meeting, the rest were Managers.

Bearing this in mind. Where in God's name was Talat Ali? If all other managers were present, why didn't he go there? Aren't making all these arrangements part of his job description? What exactly is the role of the manager if the coach is arranging these things? Is making arrangements for these kind of things beneath Talat? If making arrangements for player isn't part of the job description then surely it must be. Why does the coach have to do this? Shouldn't the coach be working with the captain to identify strengths and weaknesses within the team's players and opposition players, and formulating strategies and tactics? If Woolmer is doing all this and making arrangements, why bother having Talat around?

Rayhan, I agree. It's strange.

Not a bad effort for a foreign Mercenary eh?

I love some of the comments its public relations trick lol. Classic, comment anyhow maybe he was doing it to make sure the players are covered at the world cup.

all credit to Bob for getting the mosque constructed and setting up a halal meat supplier and shop for our team.

Well as long as he does not send another bill for this to the PCB.

Our poor guy had to travel all the way to such a boring place as Barbados for that. Surely he deserves some hardship allowance too.

I am sorry, I do not see anyone else going out of theri way and doign this? Ashraf? Talat Ali...anyone?

Plus Farhad, you seem to be so knowedgable, you should go and do it instead! these is a limit to bashing, what he is doing is a good islamic deed and inshallah Allah will give him sawaab.

Well there is good sense in why PCB has probably sent Bob Woolmer instead of the manager. See historically, a team manager in Pakistan does not last longer than 1 or 2 series. So there is a good chance that come World Cup, Talat Ali will not be our team manager. One thing that seems will be the same with the team is good ole Bob Woolmer. So it makes sense that he sees the facilities that his players will be in. Bob's always mentioned that religion is important for the team, and if this gives us a lift, thats great from Woolmer.

no winning for bobby, eh? does a good thing and many question his intentions? this itself shows their mentality and what they are capable of !!

hopefully the halal beef is not rich in nandrolone.
and the prayer room maulvi doesn't moonlight as a nandrolone dispensing hakeem.

knowing pakistan cricket, youd never know bro *ominous music playing in background*

Good on him , but doesn't Pak team organize halal food on all of their away tours anyway?

I don't think so. I know the boyz eat out a lot when they come to Aus.

in the words of the man himself, he like's to ensure there is an environment within which the players feels comfortable and at ease with themselves

i didnt think he meant it literally

Well its a good sign towards his players

Good stuff from Bob. Very organized.

What do you think Naved, apart from possibly 'its his job and thats what hes paid for'

weird how some people still question woolmer's intentions. thers a reaosn y he is one of the best coaches around. good work bob

as much as i'd want him to stay, i hope for his sake woolmer leaves after the world cup.

Very thoughtful of Bob, and I'm sure the players appreciate it.

Bear in mind, these are duties normally performed by the Manager. Hope Mr.Talat Ali attended the meeting as well. Then again, if he gets our captain's name right, that would be a start.

You don't see anyone going out of their way for a trip to Barbados? Interesting. What you are considering as a labor of love, in all honesty, is also a very enjoyable trip. Nobody minds going to Barbados for a visit.




I should have gone to Barbados? What are you on about?

Yah, but the above shows your mentality too.

No winning for Bobby? Well, he has made sure everyone knows about this, hasn't he?

isn't that always the case of getting halaal food and prayer rooms for players whenever they tour?

not to take away anything from woolmer but, i always thought that was always a criterion

whenever pak tours.

Exjactlee! I'm surprised at how blatantly he has used this as a PR tool! And some are falling head over heals in their praise for such a move. It's not as if though he has got constructed a mosque, as one righly said, or arranged for a shipment of halaal food from out of bounds!

"Assuming Pakistan top their group, also comprising the West Indies, Zimbabwe and Ireland, they will move to Guyana where they will be based for 16 days to play three Super Eight matches at the Providence Stadium."


I thought that if PAK top their group, they will move to Barbados. Please tell me that is true as I have bought ticket for super eight games at Barbados

Here is the match schedule for the world cup.

If you scroll down to the super 8 section you can see the venues for those matches. Pakistan is in group D so if they win the group they will be D1. That table has D1 playing 3 super eight game in Guyana, then play 2 in Barbados and then 1 in Grenada.

This is what a coach is supposed to do though - provide the infrastructure to make sure the players are in a position to deliver on the field.