Nice piece, though not from the most reknowned sources…
Pakistan Cricket Team Manager Tells All[Interview]
Talat Ali talks about the murder of Coach Woolmer and the World Cup disaster
Muhammad Jamil Bhatti (jamil)
Published 2007-05-05 12:26 (KST)
Former test player Talat Ali has been working as Pakistan cricket team manager since the ICC Champions Trophy in India last year. Since the World Cup his service period has been extended for two more years with some extra responsibilities. At the present time the Pakistan team is preparing for three one-day matches against Sri Lanka at Abu Dhabi this month. I interviewed him on some issues related to cricket.
World Cup 2007 was too tragic for Pakistan. Please tell us how you people spent your days there?
Ah! The 10 days after the death of Bob Woolmer after the defeat by Ireland were too disturbing and gloomy. I had to stay awake throughout the nights with the policemen for interrogation. The Jamaican prime minister helped us a lot. We wished to cooperate with the police because our coach had been killed. We wished to find the murderer. People in Pakistan cannot imagine the tough time we had there. We cooperated with the police to give our fingerprints and take a DNA test. There was no reason for us to be afraid because we all were innocent.
What type of questions did the police asked you?
These were of common type, like: Where and when did you see Bob last time? Have you seen a stranger in the hotel around his room? When did you come back to the hotel, was there any doubtful person or stranger around you? When did Bob take his dinner and who was along with him at that time?
They were asking a lot of questions about the players’ religious activities and the wound on Assistant Coach Mushtaq Ahmad’s nose. But at this I stood and said to the officer to go and check the record of the hospital where Mushtaq got his wound stitched. And religious activities are our personal matter, I said, you need not ask about it.
When and how did you get information about the death of Bob Woolmer?
Hotel manager, at 9 a.m. telephoned me and asked me to come to Bob’s room. When I asked the reason, she said that Bob had fallen in his room. When I reached his room, second to my room, he was lying unconscious in the washroom. A doctor and nurse told me that he was alive. We rushed to hospital but just after 10 minutes we were informed that he was no more. At first the hospital said: “It is a natural death.” But after some time they said it was suspicious.
According to some media sources eight Pakistani players and officials have been called to the West Indies. Is it true?
No this is simply rumor. There is no such matter in our notice.
The Australian cricket team has proved, by winning three straight World Cups, that cricket is no more a matter of chance. Do you agree?
The continuity in their performance is the biggest evidence of their extraordinary abilities and preparations. They have talent, team combination and well-managed system to produce good players. Every player worked hard in the field. Their performance has some secrets and the preparation of replacement players is the one of them. Now after the departure of Shane Warne and McGrath they have brought in Shaun Tait and Brad Hogg and will not have any problem in their bowling attack. Their system is so tight and competitive that nobody can keep a position in the team only with his name. They have to show performance in the ground.
Ricky Ponting says that low level teams, like Ireland, spoil the taste and real passion of the big events. What are your views about it?
Yes, he is right. Such teams have not international standard in their game but they are invited to such mega events. Ireland, unexpectedly, defeated Pakistan. It was totally by chance due to the grassy wicket. If Pakistan had made only 40 runs more, Ireland could not have enjoyed this victory. The Pakistan team still has the strength to beat Ireland in ten matches out of ten. This was a strange match. I can still not understand what happened to us there. The flaw of our teams is that we have not a single reliable batsman in the team. Players had lost commitment to stay on the wicket. But you see weak teams are developing them. Bangladesh beat India and South Africa, it was not by chance but they played with planning and passion.
You said that the wicket was totally grassy in the match against Ireland. Last year, in the ICC Champions trophy in India, Pakistan had to play on grassy wickets also. Do you think this is a part of any conspiracy against Pakistan team?
Yes this is right. We had to play two matches on green top wickets in Mohali, India. But you see on the very next India played against Australia on the same ground but that wicket was totally grass free. Michael Holding was also surprised to see that wicket and said: “I had never seen or heard of such a wicket in India.” The wicket against Ireland was less grassy than those. Bob Woolmer had been advising the boys how to save wickets in the early 15 overs and to speed up the run rate in the last 15 overs. But I don’t know what happened to the players that day.
We have complained to ICC Chief Malcolm Speed about the grass top wicket issue.
Many experts say that three great batsman, Sachin Tendulkar, Lara and Inzamam, should have retired before the World Cup. Should they have done that?
Such remarks are not new after defeat. People are used to saying such things. All three are great batsmen in cricket history but they have been facing slumps.
Do you think Inzi will play test cricket?
I don’t know much about his planning and fitness. Many players have been playing this sort of game in the age of 36. But we should see how he feels about taking the pressure of five-day cricket. I hope that he can still play well.
Did Inzamam decide to retire from one-day cricket under pressure?
No, that was not pressure. He was to retire at last even if Pakistan had won the World Cup. He discussed this matter with me and then the final decision was his own.
Imran Khan and some other experts criticized Inzamam because of the batting order. What do you say about it?
Yousaf and Younis were playing before him but when he went to play many wickets had fallen. We were managing the team with all situations in our minds. You see on the other side the Indian Team changed the batting order and suffered a lot.
Do you think Lara was right taking complete retirement from cricket?
At this age a player knows best whether he can play more or not. I think he can play more test cricket and I hope he will withdraw his test retirement.
Imran Khan and many others have criticized the Pakistan domestic cricket system. Imran has been supporting the regional cricket system. What are your views?
Imran always drags the Australian system into Pakistan, which is impossible. We have our own system and we may improve it more. The main thing is that, in Australia, players do not face financial problems but our situation is vice versa. I suggest Imran Khan advises us directly instead of only criticizing us in the media. He may call us to advise on something but he never does this.
Do you think such media criticism negatively affects the players’ morale?
The positive things always have a good effect but criticism for criticism’s sake and for personal interest is very dangerous. I urge such critics to visit players’ camps to advise them.
Do you think the Pakistan team can come back?
Yes the Pakistan team has a lot of potential. It only needs proper training and guidelines. You will see the team will fight back and will get back its former status.
From reporter:
Thanks to my friends Zahid Maqsood and Muhammad Yousaf Anjam for arranging the interview.
©2007 OhmyNews