ECB’s Farbrace grab called law of the jungle!
 The pinching of Sri Lankan cricket coach Paul Frabrace by the England
Cricket Board by tempting and offering bigger incentives has come in for
condemnation from many quarters. The latest to join in the condemnation
is Wisden’s Editor Lawrence Booth for encouraging Paul Frabrace to
defect to England ranks after just five months into his two year
contract with Sri Lanka Cricket.
Among other things Booth said: ‘I am quite uncomfortable as well as
what happened. I didn’t know how politely ECB enquired from SLC. I
suspect they didn’t ask him (Farbrace) to wait till the Sri Lanka series
was over.
‘It’s the law of the jungle isn’t it? People will look at this and
say that it’s an example of the big three throwing their weight around’.
Sports Editor ‘Daily News’ and Editor in Chief, Sunday Observer
Dinesh Weerawansa in an hard hitting article headlined - How ethical is
England in gentlemen’s game - said: “Many people question how ethical it
is for England to use closed-door tactics to grab the Sri Lanka coach
when the national team is due to tour England”.
UK pontificates on human rights
‘The UK which pontificates to the world on human rights, fair play
and good governance has violated Sri Lanka’s rights to have its
contracted coach, by tempting him with a lucrative deal. ‘The England’s
sinister move undoubtedly violates all norms and
principles as well as internationally accepted fair play guidelines.
‘Such dirty practice in professional sport is often prevented by
international associations or federations of the respective sport.
Unfortunately, the cricket’s governing body - the ICC seems helpless
to mete out justice as it has now become an ‘exclusive property’ of only
three countries’. Need more be said?
The frustrated, struggling and success hungry Brits who gave the game
to the world, and that probably is the only good thing they did for
sport would have acted the gentlemen and been an example had they lured
Farbrace after Sri Lanka’s tour of England starting early next month.
Then former England left arm spinner Ashley Giles who was England’s
one day coach since 2012 having joined the selection panel four years
earlier resigned as an England selector apparently in anger that he was
not considered for England’s national coach job.
Second innings for Peter Moores
Giles was hoping to succeed Andrew Flower when the ECB announced that
they had recalled former Lancashire coach Peter Moores for a second
innings with England as head coach.
When the ECB announcement was made, Giles said in the circumstances
he could no longer remain an England selector. Giles’ slot has now gone
to Mick Newell, the Nottinghamshire coach who was also eyeing the ECB
head coach job, but failed.
How coaches Moores, Farbrace and Captain Alastair Cook will cook to
raise England’s cricket “phoenix like” from the Ashes, where Australia
turned their cricket into ashes with a 5-nil bashing will be closely
followed by their supporters.
In addition the man who could have injected the urgency and intensity
to resurrect England cricket former Captain and belligerent batsman
Kevin Pietersen will not be seen in Brit colours again, which is sad by
Pietersen who did tremendously to improve their game.
The Sri Lankans will be England’s opponents in their rebuilding
process and the pinching of Farbrace is sure to make the Sri Lankan
cricketers all the more determined to fix the Brit Lions in their own
den.
Pakistan cricket enveloped in controversy
Pakistan cricket has the tendency of being enveloped in controversy.
Sadly no team is willing to tour Pakistan after the bomb blast during
the previous Sri Lankan tour. Pakistan cricket is now housed in the gulf
where they host all visiting teams.
After the team’s poor showing in the World Cup Twenty20 in Bangladesh
where they failed to reach the semi-finals, Captain Mohammad Hafeez quit
in disappointment. Pakistan has still not named a new Twenty20 Captain.
Sahid Afridi’s and Ahmed Shezhad’s names have cropped up as likely next
Twenty20 Captains.
Then the Pakistan Cricket Board removed coach Moin Khan also citing
the twenty20 World Cup failure. They are on the lookout for a new coach.
Apparently they are not looking at getting a foreign coach.
Former Captain, their batting legend Inzamam Ul-Haq suggested the
name of former fast bowling great and now TV Commentator who caused
battingq havoc on opponents when he partnered Wasim Akram - Waqar Younis
as coach.
As a speed merchant Waqar was ideal partner to Wasim and the way they
ran through the best batting sides with their classy swing and pace in
world cricket is history now.
Waqar coached Pakistan once before
Waqar had been their national coach once before from 2010 to 2011. He
delivered and proved his credentials, but failed to maintain the job and
took to TV commentating and is doing a pleasing job.
Pakistan has been looking for a head coach after Sri Lankan born Dav
What more left not having performed to expectations. Former
wicket-keeper batsman Moin Khan was given the job, but removed after two
months.
This is what Inzamam who is supporting Younis told AFP. ‘Pakistan
team benefitted during Waqar’s last tenure so I think he is the best
choice as he knows the players and is familiar with our culture.
‘I think it’s about time we change the culture of changing captains
and coaches after one defeat because you need it correct the wrongs and
change is not the solution’.
Right hand dashing batsman Inzamam who played in 120 Test matches and
378 one-day internationals during his excellent career also backed the
40-year old Misbah-ul-Haq to captain the one day team for the next World
Cup in New Zealand and Australia next year.
Biggest Pakistan selection committee
The Pakistan Cricket Board appointed a six-man selection committee
which has been tagged as the biggest in its history to choose the team
to start a hectic season leading up to next year’s World Cup.
Former skipper Moin Khan who was removed as coach takes over as
chairman of selectors which team includes former Test player Saleem
Yousuf, Sohaib Mohammad, Ijaz Ahmed, Wajahatullah Wasiti and Mohammed
Akram. When in the Gulf covering Sri Lanka’s tour against Pakistan I met
former coach Moshin Khan and with Pakistan looking for a new head coach
I asked him whether he would take over the job.
Khan who had a very successful run when he was coach said: ‘Most
certainly. If I am asked’. But apparently he had not been asked with PCB
going for Moin who has since been removed for failing to deliver in the
Twenty20 World Cup.
We will be in England describing the action between Sri Lanka and
England. So stay with the ‘Sunday Observer’, ‘Daily News’ and the ‘Thinakaran’.
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