At a time when most countries are hiring preofessionals from South Africa/Australia etc, It is interesting to see that an Indian has been hired by the South African board for their Media Management. Well Good Luck to him I hope he does well.
Shastri to help South Africans with media management
Wisden Cricinfo staff - June 9, 2003
Yet to win a Test series in England since their return to international cricket, the South African team is going all out to ensure that they break this jinx. The latest initiative is the hiring of Ravi Shastri to help the South Africans deal with the English media. Shastri, a respected commentator and media personality, will arrive in South Africa later this week to conduct a one-day session with the team.
Graeme Smith, South Africaâs 22-year-old captain, spelt out the reasons for hiring Shastri. Speaking to Beeld, an Africaans daily, Smith said: "We are fully aware of the poison pens that are being readied ahead of our arrival [in England]. Thatâs why we will leave no stone unturned to ensure that we are thoroughly prepared for what awaits us. We know weâre not going there as favourites. Itâs not a coincidence that we havenât been able to win a series there since we were re-admitted in the international cricket.
âRavi can guide us from a playerâs point of view, as well as from a media point of view about what we can expect there. We know that itâs going to be tough and that there will be huge pressures on us, but we want to prepare in a way that will enable us to handle them.â
Smith said that Shastriâs guidance could also help in improving relations between the South African media and the team. The South African squad received plenty of flak for the World Cup debacle, when they failed to qualify for the Super Six.
Meanwhile, the South African board (UCBSA) has decided to terminate its contract with Goolam Raja, the team manager, after the tour of England. Raja was manager of the team for the last decade. Though recognised as an excellent organiser, Raja, apparently, wasnât firm enough in dealing with the players. This decision is seen as another step by Smith, coach Eric Simons, and the selectors in their attempt to rebuild the South African team.
Ravi Sastry good for nothing fellow for playing cricket. just doing dodak dodak blocking and waste balls more balls but no run. also no out in bowling. Now S.Afrika getting him..why? may be for fun or joking ...otherwise what he do? also bad comentry because no good English he I think
^
unlike other indian commentators, shastri atleast doesnt say kharbooja singh is better than saqiâŚ
or agarkar is an allrounder of the callibre of wasimâŚ
and my all time favorite âgangulyâs innings (when he made 180 something) is better than saeedâs innings of 194 cuz ganguly made the runs alone while saeed used a runnerâ
A feat that is almost forgotten by the rest of the world, regardless of most of the decisions went the bowlerâs way, nobody is taking credit away from Kumble.
Now it would be nice to see Kumble does something similiar outside home.
You are talking as if whole world is running around chanting '194 by Saeed Anwar, Saeed Anwar Zindabad â . About talking the credit away - You canât even if you want to.
I would alsobe nice to see If Mr. Saeed Anwar does â194â or Similar at home.
phir ya to african team ne sidhu ke tarah ho jana tha (papay hora ne kya se putar jera kam karay jaan la ke kari, me kya papay je me cricket de aisi de tesi phair deni), ya phir sidhu ne african ho jana thaâŚyou know (shaka laka boom boom)
On a more serious note, though I think there is nothing wrong in hiring Shastri, someone else could have done a better job. Shastri wasnt technically the best of batsmen or bowler. I think they should have approached someone like Gavaskar. S. Africa has plenty of bowling talent and I think bowlers like Pullock and Ntini can be an asset for any team. They however dont have that much dependibilty as far as batting is concern. Their batsmen have talent and though they are not as inconsistent as Pakistani batsmen they still need to work on their consistency. Anyway best of luck to Shastri.
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*Originally posted by LahoriMunda: *
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Shastri wasnt technically the best of batsmen or bowler. I think they should have approached someone like Gavaskar.
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Sirjee...
Get your facts straight first... Shastri is being hired for media management... not as a cricket coach....