Pakistan capable of being world number one, says Lawson

22 July 2007

KARACHI: New Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson says his main priority is to get his talented but inconsistent team to improve their performances in away series and boost their Test ranking. Pakistan are due to host South Africa in September and October and tour India in November-December to play three Tests and five one-day internationals. They host world champions Australia early next year.

“It has always been difficult for Pakistan to show their true worth in an away series. As the Test series against India would be the first away one for me I want to prepare a Pakistan team fully capable of standing up to the challenge,” he said. The former Australia seamer has been appointed on a two-year contract by the Pakistan Cricket Board and is due to arrive in Lahore on Aug. 15 to take charge of his team.

A VIEW FROM MIDWICKET: Lawson is the chosen one
By MU Haq

Lawson was a surprise choice, beating the experienced Dav Whatmore to the post. “With a bit of more technical help, Pakistan can perform even better,” he said. “What I need is time and space. I think that a truly talented team like Pakistan could be guided to the place that has been waiting for them for years,” Lawson added. He said Pakistan have the capability of beating the number one team in the world any time and anywhere if they play to their true potential. “Obviously, it is Test cricket that comes ahead of every other version of the game. What I want is to see Pakistan as the best Test-playing nation in the world,” he added. “Test cricket shows the true worth of a team. Pakistan players have all the guts and quality to rule the world in Test cricket. What they need is proper guidance and coaching.” reuters

Geoff Lawson is the new coach for the Pakistan team, having nosed out fellow Australian Dav Whatmore, who until the very end seemed most likely to succeed the late Bob Woolmer. Lawson’s appointment has been welcomed by the players for the reason, one assumes, that he is the ‘softer’ choice as compared with the rough and ready and demanding Whatmore. Lawson has been quick to clarify that behind the soft and easy exterior hides a tough cookie who will not compromise on discipline or any laxity in the training and fitness areas. He has said that he does not suffer fools and will not put up with second best. So watch out! This is to be expected of the Australian character and, contrary to the word being circulated, there is no danger of Lawson not being fully committed and faithful to the Pakistan cause, especially in contests against Australia. He is a grade 3 coach with the added advantage of being a qualified optometrist which probably implies that in the event the Pakistani players are not seeing the ball too well when facing the likes of the Australian Lee or Sri Lankan Malinga or fielding in the deep he could put them through a quick eye test!

As for Whatmore, he gave up the Bangladesh job in the hope of replacing Greg Chappell and only considered Pakistan after the Indians rejected him. Word has it also that he was asking for the earth, as it were. He was probably too crusty to be liked by our players! Those particularly pleased with Lawson’s appointment are the captain Shoaib Malik and Shoaib Akhtar, the latter being absolutely thrilled. Staying with the latter, I was quite appalled to see his photograph in one of the local newspapers, in which he looked more like a sumo wrestler than an international fast bowler. Mr Akhtar will need to work very hard to make his shadow look thinner if he is to last out Pakistan’s hectic programme in the course of the next six to eight months. He is also, to my mind, very fortunate to be placed in the highest bracket of the central contracts. If he does not watch his weight he might be referred to as “Thunder Thighs” and not the “Rawalpindi Express”! Incidentally Lawson excelled as captain of New South Wales and his brand of aggressive and positive captaincy influenced the leadership skills of Mark Taylor and Steve Waugh, young teammates who went on to become two of Australia’s finest captains. This is another plus point for Lawson.

The mercurial Shahid Afridi is a man who thinks like the way he bats – in a very swashbuckling manner. He is firmly of the view that a coach is entirely surplus to the national team’s requirement. I rather think that Mr Afridi, too, is lucky to be placed in the highest cadre of the central contracts especially as he has not permormed well enough in recent times to merit such consideration. The award of central contracts to leading players provided no real surprises. As was expected, Inzamam was not considered, though the lack of a contract does not put him out of contention for Test selection, provided he is fit. Former captain Zaheer Abbas is of the view that Inzi should retire honourably and there are many who share that sentiment. One significant change in the team management in the post-Inzamam era is that the team manager will be an active member of the committee to select the playing eleven. This is probably an aftermath of Inzamam’s (bullying) approach and having his way sometimes to Pakistan’s disadvantage e.g. his choice of Azhar Mahmood over Danish Kaneria in the World Cup match against Ireland which largely contributed to Pakistan’s defeat. Legend has it that Inzi sulked if he could not have his way and was known to ignore Woolmer for weeks following a disagreement. It is a pity that for such a great batsman, the former captain was such a small – minded man. A great pity, indeed.

(MU Haq is a life member of PCB, former President of Karachi Cricket Association and a member of MCC)

Source : www.Dailytimes.com.pk

Well lets see what Lawson brings to the party.

There has not been a single coach that has been able to bring consistency into the Pakistan team.

The batting remains a huge problem, especially the openers, thats why I'm a bit surprised that the PCB have opted for a bowler as a coach.

He will be reminded of this quote again and again and again

well the questions is when is he joining the boys in Pakistan

lets c wat this guys bring every coach says something but somethings cant be understood by **** aur non-pakisatni coaches i guess pak team ko samajhna naa mumkin hai lol, well wat will you do u little aussie chump well time will tell i am waitring i hope you do well lol

We hear "'Pakistan capable of being no1" all the time, nothing new really. What we lack is discipline and professionalism.....combine these two and things can change...but then again, there is the in-fighting aswell.

Isn't that what they all say?

And in fact, every team is techinally, capable of being numero uno, but its the discipline, the temperment, and the players that allows them to do it.

HaHaHa

I guess no one read the article earlier. Now people are probably searching for TT to make sure you didn't make that up

Thunder Thighs...sounds like a professional, you know what :-)

Aj hi waikho 'Thunder Thighs Taay Zaalim Samaaj'...ikk haseena di dard bhari daastan; shot in Kamoon Kachaay's beautiful back drop

So it is official...he is Mr. Thunder Thighs :-)

Lawson has not said that Pakistan are going to win every series and run away with the top crown - he says we are capable of being world number one and we can work towards that. Nothing wrong with aiming high as long as the results come, slowly and surely.

Its not about being number 1 its about being the best YOU can be. If you train and apply yourself so that you are the best YOU can be then there is a good chance you will be the number 1 team.

Pakistan need to worry about being the best team they can be, working for each other and putting the team first to achieve greater things.

Akhtar is a good example of a player that only thinks of himself and does nothing for the team, you need four good bowlers working together to knock over the opposition batsmen.

One of the biggest issues I have with a "foreign" coach is that they spend more time being away from the players than they do actually being with them.

Lets be honest about it, Lawson will do his stint with the players, go on tour with them and be on the first plane back to Australia.

Geoff's Number1 in my book...

that picture looks like from his optometry shop. that may have counted heavily in his favor and now he can examine the eyes of the openers. It cannot be the magic bats that pull the arm or just dodge the ball

Looks more like a Professor then a Coach...

Lets see if Professor Lawson can teach a lesson or two to the Class Bully AKA Mr. Thunder Thighs :-)

thunder thighs like our former hockey right out qamar ibrahim .. anyone remember him?

As was expected, Inzamam was not considered, though the lack of a contract does not put him out of contention for Test selection, provided he is fit. Former captain Zaheer Abbas is of the view that Inzi should retire honourably and there are many who share that sentiment. One significant change in the team management in the post-Inzamam era is that the team manager will be an active member of the committee to select the playing eleven. This is probably an aftermath of Inzamam’s (bullying) approach and having his way sometimes to Pakistan’s disadvantage e.g. his choice of Azhar Mahmood over Danish Kaneria in the World Cup match against Ireland which largely contributed to Pakistan’s defeat. Legend has it that Inzi sulked if he could not have his way and was known to ignore Woolmer for weeks following a disagreement. It is a pity that for such a great batsman, the former captain was such a small – minded man. A great pity, indeed.

He had a go at inzi as well as others.