Re: Deceased Pakistan Coach Bob Woolmer Had E-Mailed His Resignation To PCB on Sunday
'Woolmer wanted to quit coaching, settle in SA’
By Mohammad Yaqoob
LAHORE, March 22: Late Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer had made up his mind to retire from his coaching job after the 2007 World Cup to settle down in Cape Town, South Africa.
This was disclosed by Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman, Dr Nasim Ashraf who recently tendered his resignation after Pakistan’s shocking ouster in the first round of the ongoing World Cup. The fate of the resignation, however, is yet to be known since the Patron of the board, President Pervez Musharraf has not ruled on it so far.
Pakistan went out of contention in the mega event after losing their first two matches against the hosts West Indies and minnows Ireland. While the nation was still reeling from the shocking exit of the national team, the tragic news of coach Woolmer’s sudden demise devastated everyone.
“On the morning after we lost to Ireland, Woolmer had sent me an e-mail (dated March 18) in which he also expressed his great disappointment over the stunning defeat. But he still believed his boys tried their best and fought till the last to make the most of the match ," Dr Nasim revealed.
He quoted Woolmer from his e-mail which said: “I would like to praise my association with the Pakistan team but now I would like to announce my retirement after the World Cup to live the rest of my life in Cape Town (South Africa).”
Dr Nasim said according to the e-mail, its transmission time was 6.00pm last Sunday. “As I was on the tour of interior Sindh from Sunday, I could not check my e-mail and it was only today (Thursday) that I saw the message from Woolmer,” he said.
Dr Nasim said he was in constant contact with Mrs Gill Woolmer, the coach’s widow, and she was quite satisfied with the way Pakistan team management in the West Indies had been dealing with all matters.
“I have been speaking to Mrs Woolmer twice every day to keep her updated about things and I have assured her of all the help from PCB,” he said.
He said Woolmer’s tragic death also disappointed the Pakistani fans since he had developed a rapport of sorts with them during his three-year stay with the Pakistan team.
Dr Nasim, however, strongly condemned those with vested interest who were trying to use the tragic death of Woolmer for their own reasons. “There is no final report from Jamaica’s police on the death of Woolmer, but sadly people are trying to make absurd speculation about it,” he regretted.
“I don’t believe anything untoward happened with Woolmer and I would like to request people to wait till the issuance of final police report,” he said.
To a question, the chairman said the Pakistan team was most likely to leave for home on Saturday. “According to information I received from the team management, the ICC is making efforts to book seats for team and hopefully the boys will leave for the country on their schedule time (Saturday),” he said.
Commenting on his own resignation from PCB, Dr Nasim said though he had tendered it before the Patron, he would continue his job till President Musharraf accepted the same.
Asked about the reasons that prompted him to resign, he said he was not shy of accepting the responsibility of Pakistan’s poor show at the World Cup but decided to finally quit since the people had begun to politicise the disaster and “made personal attacks on me.”
“I have no lust for the job and I will not like others to make personal remarks at me. Professionally, I am open to criticism,” he said.
The chairman, however, added that “I will be ready to continue the job if the president asked me for it,” he said
So the joker may continue with the job if Busharaf asks him.
