The Hindu : Sport / Cricket : Lawson’s remarks lead to walk out

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Lawson’s remarks lead to walk out

Principal Correspondent

KARACHI: The festering wounds were on public display. All through the STAR Cricket Asia Cup tournament, it was evident that the Pakistan team management and the local media shared an icy equation.

On Sunday night, things came to a boil when Pakistan coach Geoff Lawson’s intemperate remarks led to a boycott of the post-match press conference.

After Pakistan’s loss to Sri Lanka, Lawson, on entering the conference hall, made a prefatory remark: “A few rules. No statements, just questions and if you ask me anything beyond, I won’t say anything.”

A senior Pakistani journalist, who writes for the international agencies, shot back: “Are you dictating (the) media?”

Lawson made a sarcastic remark about the correct usage of English and added: “If you are going to be rude, you might as well sit there.” And he pointed to the dais.

The Pakistani scribes, working for both the English and Urdu newspapers, immediately walked out and Lawson also left in a huff.

Flashpoint

It was a flashpoint that could have been avoided with tact but with Shoaib Malik’s captaincy being scrutinised excessively and former cricketers too joining the chorus for change in the Pakistan team management, the ties between the team and the media has soured.

The undercurrents of tension were also evident when Shoaib Malik did not attend the presentation ceremony and instead sent in Misbah-ul-Haq. Malik also skipped the press conference and once Lawson walked in, all hell broke loose.

Apology

Meanwhile, through a press release issued on Monday, Lawson apologised for the unfortunate turn of events.

“What happened was regrettable and I would like to apologise for the events that led to the incident.

“I assure everyone that as coach of the Pakistan team, I look forward to cordial relations with the media,” Lawson said.

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