Lawson named Pakistan coach

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Shahrukh Khan

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It was Geoff Lawson's fast-bowling background that won him the coaching job for the Pakistan team, the Pakistan Cricket Board revealed while formally announcing the decision at a press conference in Karachi.

Lawson's appointment ended a lengthy wait without a coach since the death of Bob Woolmer during the World Cup. Lawson, the former Australia fast bowler, has been appointed for two years and edged out compatriots Dav Whatmore and Richard Done in the race for the job.

"Pakistan has many pace bowlers and we win matches with them," Nasim Ashraf, the PCB chairman, said. "Having a former fast bowler on board is an advantage for that definitely.

"We weighed all our options and, though all three were highly qualified, we felt Lawson was most suitable to our needs. Dav Whatmore and Richard Done were not any less candidates, just that Lawson was what we needed."

Ashraf dismissed claims that Arjuna Ranatunga's comments regarding Whatmore played a part in the decision, or that the players, many of whom were in favour of Lawson, had exercised their influence unduly.

Ashraf described Lawson, who picked up 180 wickets in 46 Tests, as "a very educated man" and said the PCB liked "his approach and his attention to detail and so we opted for him".

Lawson, a level three coach, will arrive in Pakistan on August 15 and is expected to be on a similar financial package as Woolmer. He is likely to bring his own management support team with him and Ashraf said Pakistan might appoint a specialist batting coach, given their brittleness in that department. "We will definitely have a fielding coach and we want world-class trainers and physiotherapists as well," he said. "We want to have a streamlined management team and Lawson has his ideas on that."

Lawson told Cricinfo the prospect of bringing out the best talent in Pakistan lured him to the job. "It is such a talented team that you have to be excited working with them," he said. "A series of events essentially led me to the job. Two months ago, this was a long way from my mind. I got a call asking whether I would be interested and I waited on the findings of the Bob Woolmer case because that was important.

"I came over and met with the board and the players and I have to say I was very impressed with the set-up, their ideas and vision. The chief [chairman Nasim Ashraf] was very impressive."

This will be Lawson's first international assignment though he has been head coach with New South Wales and is currently involved officially with the state. But his state experience and his media work, he says, will help him adjust.

"It's a different level, no doubt," he said. "But I've worked with high-performance players at NSW. Nathan Bracken and Stuart Clark are sort of my pupils and I've worked with Glenn McGrath as well, so I have that experience. Also my media work has taken me round the world as an analyst so I haven't been too far from the game ever."


History will judge my move here but I hope, ultimately, that Pakistan will remember me as one of the best coaches they ever had



Lawson is also a rarity in that he is an ex-fast bowler, a breed not renowned much for their coaching abilities. Pakistan, with an abundance of fast bowling talent, is a fitting first job. "They have some terrific talent. Shoaib [Akhtar] - we have to make sure he is fit and consistent. Rao Iftikhar, Mohammad Sami, Mohammad Asif - these guys make up a quality pace attack. And there's more beyond them, big guys who bowl fast. Quality fast bowlers basically help you win Tests and I am excited about working with them."

Pakistan have busy times ahead, the Twenty20 World Championship is a precursor to an international season that includes visits by South Africa and Australia with a tour to India sandwiched in between for good measure. "We hit the ground running really, as there are some big series coming up. I know what I want to do with the team and where we should go. History will judge my move here but I hope, ultimately, that Pakistan will remember me as one of the best coaches they ever had."

Posted 19 Jul 2007

Miandad willing to help Lawson

Cricinfo staff

July 19, 2007



Will Javed Miandad don his training gear again, for Pakistan cricket? © AFP



Despite criticising his appointment, Javed Miandad says he is willing to work with Pakistan's new coach Geoff Lawson. Miandad, along with Intikhhab Alam, was among the first to slam Lawson's appointment, claiming that not only was he a foreigner, and thus "less patriotic", but also that, on merit, Dav Whatmore was the better option.

Lawson, placed in charge of Pakistan for two years initially, responded with a peace offering of sorts. He told The Australian that he wanted to bring his critics on board and use their inputs as well. Miandad, against whom he played eight Tests between 1982 and 1984, was the ideal personality to use, said Lawson.

"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," Lawson said. "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 has now welcomed the offer, though was unwilling to firm up the sentiment. "I was and am always available whenever Pakistan cricket would need me," Miandad told The News.

But when asked whether he would consider the possiblity 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."

Miandad, arguably Pakistan's greatest batsman, described Lawson's gesture as "a slap in the faces of those {PCB} officials" who have overlooked his credentials in recent years. Miandad has coached Pakistan on three occasions and in his last stint he was eventually replaced by Bob Woolmer in June 2004. Famously, the two had a private dinner soon after Woolmer took over but relations between the two continued to cool thereafter, leading Miandad to hope that "it will be different with Lawson."
Posted 19 Jul 2007

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