[EXCLUSIVE] "Pakistan need to believe they can win - there's no point having a losing mindset": Geoff Lawson

[MenInG]

Former Pakistan Head coach and Australian pace-bowler, Geoff Lawson, speaks to Saj Sadiq for PakPassion on a variety of topics including:

- The positives and negatives for Pakistan in the 1st Test in Perth
- Shaheen Shah Afridi's performance in Perth
- Pakistan’s batting effort in the 1st Test
- Aamer Jamal and Khurram Shahzad's impressive debuts
- The Mohammad Rizwan versus Sarfaraz Ahmed debate
- Shan Masood's debut as Test captain
- Babar Azam's lack of runs in Perth
- Is Mohammad Hafeez the right man to head up Pakistan’s coaching team
- His coaching stint in Pakistan earlier this year
- Working with Under 19 pacer Mohammad Zeeshan
- Pakistan's chances at Melbourne and Sydney
- His hopes of working for PCB in the future

 

[Cricket Warrior]

Surely he knows much more about Pakistan cricket than our current coaching staff.

An excellent in depth analysis.

 

[Saj]

Another mistreated by the PCB and dumped.

Great cricketing mind and a passionate supporter of Pakistan cricket.

He had a great rapport with the players and could have done a good job if allowed to continue in his role as Head Coach.

 

[Shadow_muaythai]

Absolutely correct here. Takes me back to statements made about being happy to play 100 overs against Australia. There isnt much self belief in this Pakistani team. Geoff Lawson has a good head on his shoulders and a genuine interest in Pakistan cricket. Shame the PCB cant handle good staff properly.

 

[Savak]

Another mistreated by the PCB and dumped.

Great cricketing mind and a passionate supporter of Pakistan cricket.

He had a great rapport with the players and could have done a good job if allowed to continue in his role as Head Coach.

I don't think so. He has not really coached anywhere else and the Pakistani coaching role was his only high profile gig. His tenure showed he could not handle the pressure associated with the role given how he snapped with the media. The players who played under his tenure especially Younis Khan were frustrated with his lack of input when things got tough i.e the 2007 tour to India.

The PCB blundered opting for Lawson over Whatmore back then.

 

[Saj]

I don't think so. He has not really coached anywhere else and the Pakistani coaching role was his only high profile gig. His tenure showed he could not handle the pressure associated with the role given how he snapped with the media. The players who played under his tenure especially Younis Khan were frustrated with his lack of input when things got tough i.e the 2007 tour to India.

The PCB blundered opting for Lawson over Whatmore back then.

Ijaz Butt came in and wanted him out.

Butt had said that Lawson would completed his term as Head Coach and then next day he changed his mind.

He was appointed by Nasim Ashraf and many felt that he was sacked as the new regime didn't want any of Ashraf's people around.

There were also allegations that the compensation Lawson was supposed to receive wasn't paid in full.

 

[FearlessRoar]

Former Australia cricketer Geoff Lawson wrote in his column for ‘The Sydney Morning Herald’ on Saturday:

"The naysayers – and there were plenty who objected to his appointment – had their platform based almost solely on his cricket skill as a fast bowler, which was less than rational reasoning.”

“They either excluded or were unaware of the place of education, experience and adaptation as formative qualities. For Pat Cummins, there are no “I told you so”, no excuses, no gestures to press boxes, just unrelenting energy to be better than yesterday."

"A fast bowling captain in a Test has real-time challenges: vital, physically challenging spells built around the mental tasks of organisation and decision-making, although 50-over cricket can provide shorter term exasperation.”

"One-dayers bring constant bowling and field changes; bowlers are under the pump from swinging batsmen, climbing run rates and short boundaries. The game can move very quickly and the captain needs to be somewhere near the curve, if not ahead of it.”

"Australia began the 50-over World Cup campaign lethargic and weary, perhaps a result of their protracted lead-up matches; mental tiredness as much as physical wear were to blame. Cummins did not play the South Africa series, preferring to freshen up for the World Cup long haul.”

“The bowling captain would need to be the sharpest of his team for an 11-game tournament. Although he didn’t play, Cummins did attend the games, to watch, strategise and learn, perhaps in a similar fashion as when recovering three times from back-stress fractures.”

"Study comes in many forms. The homework in South Africa paid off handsomely as his handling of the World Cup semi and final was creative, flexible, adaptable, near flawless and, ultimately, victorious."

“Cummins understands that his team will have different personalities and that cricket and life are more enjoyable and productive when adorned with difference, rather than stifled by uniformity.”

“If captains don’t get better with time then their time at the top is brief. Australia’s last half-dozen or so all improved as their tenure lengthened; some improved quicker than others.”

“Cummins looks to be a quick study indeed. He learns, evolves and has the emotional quotient to improve with every outing – in yesteryear, this was referred to as an “even temperament.”

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Boyses played with effort but taqdeer not with them. Alhamdulilah

 

[Major]

Another mistreated by the PCB and dumped.

Great cricketing mind and a passionate supporter of Pakistan cricket.

He had a great rapport with the players and could have done a good job if allowed to continue in his role as Head Coach.

One of the best thing that Lawson did was he got David Dwyer for Pakistan, and he did well on the fitness aspect of the players and even trained his assistant to take over in future.

 

[Saj]

One of the best thing that Lawson did was he got David Dwyer for Pakistan, and he did well on the fitness aspect of the players and even trained his assistant to take over in future.

Yes very true.

Dwyer was an excellent fitness coach, very professional.

Back in the day when Lawson was coach, players would go running to PCB officials if they felt that the coaches were pushing them too hard. Then we wonder why our cricket ends up in a mess.

 

[jibranansarisahab]

Australian tour has become so torturous for pakistan fans , they already know that there is no chance of even drawing a test match in australia. The only things pakistan fans loved were that pakistan used to have a 145 + kph bowler almost every time we toured australia or likes of Mohammad Asif and Aamir. This time though there is nothing to look forward too , no 90 mph quick bowlers and babar is completely out of depth.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Same defensive mindset brought about early wickets. Needed a realty strong opening partnership. Drop them both

 

[Suleiman]

Unfortunately loser mindset has creeped into our fans too. Their standards have dropped to meet the quality of the team. Which is not a good thing.

Too many people going “well uhh I’m satisfied with this performance!!” It’s like wth. Game was in our palms, how many times do we let these fools drop the ball Vs Australia and just smile through it?

 

[Champ_Pal]

Pakistan played really well in 2nd Test. They needed Babar to score big to win. He is their premier player.
Had Babar clicked with some 75 odd runs, Pakistan could have won even after all those drop catches by Pak fielders.

 

[SpiritOf1903]

Pakistan played really well in 2nd Test. They needed Babar to score big to win. He is their premier player.
Had Babar clicked with some 75 odd runs, Pakistan could have won even after all those drop catches by Pak fielders.

Babar is a hack

 

[the Great Khan]

Belief? Lol..Pakistan has no belief. They live in this pretend dunya where they use words like professional and strategy but have no idea what that means..

 

[Saj]

A concern I have is the lack of importance given to Test cricket by so many of the players and the Board.

This has a reflection on performances and results.

 

[FearlessRoar]

As Geoff Lawson has already said "Pakistan need to believe they can win - there's no point having a losing mindset."

Pakistan's speedster also tweeted about it.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1740668342795694580

 

[Saj]

I'm not sure that the belief was ever there.

To me, it seemed like it was a case of trying to save face and hope they could limit the damage.