Lawson flies out for Pakistan interview, safety guaranteed

Will Swanton
June 17, 2007

FORMER Australian speedster Geoff Lawson flew out of Sydney last night to be interviewed for one of the most volatile jobs in world sport.

Lawson will be interviewed for the job of Pakistan coach. The position is vacant after the death of Bob Woolmer in March during the World Cup.

Police initially claimed Woolmer was murdered in a Jamaican hotel room by a combination of poisoning and strangulation after Pakistan's shock first-round exit. They have since ruled that Woolmer died of a heart attack.

Lawson is on a shortlist of three with countrymen Dav Whatmore and ICC high performance manager Richard Done, Lawson's new-ball partner for the NSW Colts in 1977.

Lawson was due to fly from Sydney to the Pakistan capital of Islamabad at 9pm yesterday after being given assurances of his safety if appointed.

"I was told that my personal safety was guaranteed. The Pakistan cricket board have chased me, I haven't chased them," Lawson told The Sun-Herald.

"Given what's been revealed about Bob Woolmer - that he wasn't murdered - it changes the story about the job. I don't think my wife would be letting me go over there if the verdict had been murder.

"I've made a lot of enquiries to a lot of people and I wouldn't be going all the way to Islamabad unless it was a realistic proposition.

"I've been told the initial reports about Bob were overblown and out of context. If I go over there, I'll be working my bum off to make Pakistan the best side they can be."

Lawson admitted there would be immense pressure from the Pakistan public for the team to re-emerge as a Test and one-day powerhouse.

"I would say the Indian job probably carried the most intense scrutiny in terms of the public," Lawson said.

"In both jobs, you have a few losses and the heat is on. But it's the same way in Australia, anywhere.

"I see Pakistan as a highly talented but underachieving side and that would be a great challenge for a coach, to get them playing at their best again. If there's one thing they don't lack, it's potential."

Lawson believes Whatmore is favoured given his experience coaching Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.

Done replaced Woolmer at the ICC 2½ years ago when Woolmer took up the Pakistan job. Lawson claimed 180 wickets in 46 Tests from 1980-89 before finishing his career as NSW captain and then coach.

He said if he missed out he would be interested in the NSW job now that Trevor Bayliss has accepted an offer to coach Sri Lanka.