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Sooner than later
for both BCCI and PCB! |
A Feature by Syed Ahsan Ali
on June 15, 2007
Here came the news and here it went. Some
reported it, some spun it and some took a sigh
of relief that now it got out of the way.
Filling the most sought after job in world
cricket will become so problematic to fill,
nobody could have thought of it. In the
beginning, there were clear expectations all
over the globe that the Board (BCCI) which can
invent a new cricket world order due to its
influence, finances and money-tapping in the
premises of the most popular game of the region
can hire anyone, anytime regardless of price and
credentials. But things are not always as they
seem. Money is the matter but it is not the
whole matter.
 The
BCCI still can’t find the man who can take the
responsibility of coaching this talented Indian
team. When we said that what happened with late
Woolmer and the obnoxious Chappell during the
World Cup will haunt us in the coming days then
it was just a wild guess. But now things are
unfolding. Both countries are facing real
hardships in finding the men who can keep them
going. I do not know what prevented Ford from
taking such a high-profile lucrative coaching
assignment but it had to be something very big
and genuine that halted him from coming to
India.
The way we presented ourselves in the last few
months to the outer world, both India and
Pakistan are definitely sending wrong signals
especially to coaches. Now Bob Woolmer’s natural
death has been confirmed and it would definitely
raise few eye brows, not that much if it would
have been confirmed as murder, but still the
news is urging people to bear few reservations
about the way cricket has been run in Asia
especially in India and Pakistan. Reports of
factions in the Indian side, Younis Khan’s
apology from taking captaincy due to increasing
pressures and criticism from all parts, veteran
cricketers’ disapproval of the idea of having a
foreign coach in both countries, the way
Chappell preferred to stay out of the system,
allegations on players of match fixing and the
way Pakistan lost one of the greatest batsman of
its cricket playing history - Inzamam are making
the foreigners immensely fearsome about
accepting any job in the region.
One just can’t imagine that someone like Ford
can reject such big assignment, especially after
coming all the way from England, giving
presentations and making us all feel as if he
wanted to get in this role and then walking out
of the offer due to some personal problems. But
hopefully problems lie on Ford’s side, not on
our side because it would be very bitter news
for all of us, Asians. It would show that we
have not been very good with others and as well
as with ourselves when it comes to professional
matters. Steve Rixon clearly pointed out that he
is waiting for an inquiry report about Bob’s
death before making up his mind for Pakistan’s
offer. After World Cup each and very country had
coaching affairs but why does it make it so many
ripples on the surface when it comes to Pakistan
and India? England finds a new coach, Australia
finds a coach even Langer finds a coach for his
domestic Australian side but not India and
Pakistan!
Hopefully, they would find a Coach sooner rather
than later which they would eventually because
the time which they would take in deciding will
raise lot more questions about why people
abstain from taking jobs of Indian and Pakistan.
Obsession with Foreign Coaches may lead them to
the pass where they would have no other option
than going for a local coach. Whatever may
happen, it should happen sooner than later.
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