My Pakistan Cricket Experience: 06/07 Tour To South Africa

Back in January 2007, I was working as a players attendant at St Georges Park in Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

Pakistan's cricket tour of the country was in full swing (even if they weren't hitting much) and they arrived in PE a little out of sorts to say the least.

My job was basically to fart around the players area's stocking fridges and being of assistance wherever possible.

A job I must say I really enjoyed, except when players got out of course.

Crash, Bang there goes a cricket bat I think. No, wait, it was a helmet!

Having worked with South Africa on numerous occasions and with the likes of Australia and India previously. I was looking forward to working with the famous Pakistan players.

With two days practice and a five day test, you really get to know the players and get a feel for the personalities in the sport.

I'll keep it to Pakistan today but I've certainly got a few stories.

Pakistan were in serious limbo and this was to be their final tour before the infamous 2007 ICC World Cup, where Pakistan crashed out in the first round and sadly their coach Bob Woolmer passed away.

I have three pretty stand out memories from that week.

Firstly are my memories of the late Bob Woolmer.

He was a man under pressure and in my mind being seriously undermined within the Pakistan system. Always red in the face and rarely a smile but that was just Bob Woolmer I believe.

One morning while standing at the nets watching the morning warm up a few locals approached Bob to ask for a photo. He accepted and did his bit infront of the camera.

He then turned to me and said "If I'd had a pound for every time I've been asked for one of those". What you're not a millionaire already I thought?

He had sense of humour in their somewhere but what always came across was his belief in himself. You could feel him walking into a room.

A great man who is sadly missed.

My second story involves Bob again.

Anyone remember his infamous bust up with Shoaib Akhtar which was caught on television in the Pakistan players box in PE?

Well I was refilling the fridge in that very room when I heard the shouting start. I was less than a metre away as the slagging match continued as the room filled up with Pakistan players.

I slowly slipped out the door as I wasn't getting caught in the middle of that!

I've never heard anyone talk to a coach like that in my life.

Imagine then a few hours later, the teams are on the park and I'm sitting in the South African players box (working hard) when the above incident came onto the world wide tv coverage.

I spent the next half hour listening to South African players and commentators trying to work out what had happened and what had been said.

Not me though, I was there!

Last but definitely not least, is partying with the stars.

Well when I say partying, I mean lapping it up at Port Elizabeth's famous GoGo lounge.

You see players are party animals and over 7 days, it's hard for them to stay focused.

Apparently!

Finally a shout out to Rozeena and her family who cooked for the Pakistan side all week.

That was some good, good food!

As well as my friend, Mohammed Sami.