Has Bob Woolmer finally decided to call it quits with the Pakistan Cricket
Board? This question is making the rounds in cricket circles of the country
ever since Woolmer vacated his room at the National Cricket Academy in Lahore
before leaving with the Pakistan team for the World Cup in the West Indies.
"Woolmer has taken and sent all his belongings back to
South Africa. He used to leave those in his room or at the NCA even when
he went abroad for vacations after taking over as coach in June, 2004,"
an official in the board said today.
"The indications certainly are that Woolmer has either
decided not to continue as coach of Pakistan after the World Cup or has
got a signal that the board is not interested in retaining his services after
the tournament," a source said.
Woolmer's contract with the PCB expires in June. After
the World Cup, Pakistan is likely to have one more international assignment
-- a tri-series or a bilateral one-day rubber against Sri Lanka in Abu
Dhabi in May.
The source said the PCB had also recently handed over the room
used by Woolmer, which used to be locked when he was away, to a representative
of the Caricom who had come down to Lahore recently in connection with the satellite
visa issuance cell in Pakistan.
"Yes, the Caricom official set up his office and stayed in Woolmer's room
since it was empty," said a board official.
However, sources said that the PCB's decision to end Woolmer's
contract would depend largely on how the team performed in the World Cup. "If
the team does well in the World Cup then captain Inzamam ul Haq and Woolmer
will return home heroes and it could force a rethink on the coach's contract,"
a source said.
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