Woolmer unlikely to accept PCB offer (4 August 1999)

4 August 1999

Woolmer unlikely to accept PCB offer

Trevor Chesterfield

CENTURION (South Africa) - Bob Woolmer is unlikely to give up his comfy duel role with the United Cricket Board and the English county Warwickshire over the next three years to take on the precarious job as Pakistan's coach. Although sources linked to the ad hoc committee now running the game's affairs in Pakistan after the government two weeks ago suspended the Pakistan Cricket Board, have approached Woolmer, the former South African coach has shown no interest in the job.

If comment from the UCB managing director Dr Ali Bacher is to be taken at face value, the former England all-rounder's new job with the UCB would preclude any efforts by Pakistan to successfully recruit him.

Long regarded as the guru of modern limited-overs thinking Woolmer has a six months contract with the UCB from September 1 until the end of February. and is to also do television and radio work during the England tour of South Africa from mid-November.

Dr Bacher has confirmed that Woolmer and the UCB had a firm contractual deal which was designed to unearth new talent in South Africa as well as help former young contracted players and those on the fringes of the national side to develop a competitive attitude.

The PCB's ad hoc committee chairman, Mujeebur Rehman, had hoped that Woolmer would reply to the committee's "formal approach for him to coach the side" by the end of the week.

But what with match-fixing and bribery charges, allegations of gambling by players and the suspension of the captain Wasim Akram as well as Ijaz Ahmed and Salim Malik, it is doubtful whether Woolmer would be keen to step into a political hot pot and take over from Mushtaq Mohammad the World Cup team's coach.

On another front Kepler Wessels feels time is not yet right to move into the position of convener of selectors. He has told Dr Bacher while he is keen to become a member of the national selection panel he is not in a hurry top fill Peter Pollock's vacancy. It means that four members of the panel, Clive Rice, Morris Garda, Rushdie Majiet and Mike Procter are to be interviewed on August 16 for the position of convener.

There are rumblings, however, that Majiet is far from happy about applying for the post as convener. As the longest serving member on the national panel, restructured in July 1991 when unity was achieved, it was felt that Majiet was the right person to step take over from Pollock. Now a group of four senior UCB executive members are to interview the candidates. The executive four are UCB president Ray White, deputy Percy Sonn, Dr Bacher and John Blair.

Makhaya Ntini, whose rape case appeal is to be heard in October, has fired his defence counsel and seeking a Cape Town advocate to represent him during the appeal. Sentenced to six years in jail for raping 22-year-old student Nomangezi Matokazi at Buffalo Park almost nine months ago, Ntini is out on bail.

The 22-year-old Test fast bowler has axed Chris Kay and Ben Ford and hired Bonisile Sandi to handle the case with a Cape Town advocate, whose name has yet to be announced. Mr Sandi has declined to comment on the case or who would argue it on behalf of Ntini but Cape Town sources say the advocate is "an aggressive and highly astute observer and has an impressive record in appeal courts in the Cape".

While the UCB are aware of the moves Dr Bacher declined to comment. He did confirm that Ntini was still drawing his monthly salary as a UCB contracted player (about US$4 300).

The UCB has been heavily criticised for paying Ntini his monthly retainer.

Dr Bacher said that once the appeal had been heard and the result known the UCB would "go public" on why they had adopted their particular stance with the South African and Border fast bowler.

The UCB had made it known that should the appeal fail Ntini's contract would be terminated as a criminal conviction is considered by the board as a breach of contract.

Source :: Trevor Chesterfield, Pretoria News