Q: Were you consulted before removing the captain?
Law:
Look, I wasn’t consulted because I was on leave. Probably I was not
contactable at the time. The board has made a decision not just for
what had happened in Zimbabwe but from what I understand some other
ongoing situations. They have made a decision and we just got to get on
with it and play good cricket.
Q: When did you hear the news?
Law: I read it on e-mail a couple of days ago.
Q: What was your reaction?
Law:
I was a bit surprised. It is pretty difficult to see one’s own
reaction but inside I knew that I was very surprised by the news.
Q: How was the dressing room environment in Zimbabwe?
Law:
I have observed it’s no different to any other dressing room that I
have been involved. The captain and the vice-captain are the leaders of
the group. They had the respect of the players and they did share
their respect as well. From what you guys were told or what’s been
reported it’s far from truth from what’s going on inside the dressing
room. What I have seen is that they are a disciplined bunch of boys.
They enjoyed good time but they were allowed to and it’s part of growing
up. We are dealing with some young men in the dressing room and they
got to be given their chance to grow as well. Yes, we didn’t perform
well in Zimbabwe but it steadily improved. We got two youngsters who
came in and did a great job. There are a lot of positive things that
came out of the dressing room. The feeling since I have been involved
with the team the dressing room atmosphere has always been good.
Q: What about the head of delegation’s complaint about not letting them enter the dressing room?
Law:
I did not have so many problems with it. I just saw the players’
reaction when things have been said and look I am different obviously
to a lot of things. This is the first time I have seen the head of
delegation and the selector being in the dressing room for every part of
the game and every minute of the day. It’s new. I just believe that
the players need some sanctuary to get away and the dressing room is
their sanctuary. In the hotel we are surrounded by press. At the
dressing room when we get there we were surrounded by other pressures
other than what we had to deal with. Players just need to have that
little bit of space just to get away with what is actually happening so
that they can gather their thought and start planning, so that they
can go and play better cricket. It’s been unfair for anybody.
Q: Did the players tell you to request them not to enter into the dressing room?
Law:
It wasn’t the fact that the players have come and told me that you got
to get them out. It wasn’t that. I observed what was going on. I spoke
to the players and they said ‘look, if you can get them out maybe it
will be better for us’. It was never a fact that someone came to me and
said that mate they must go. It was a group decision and I have got
nothing against the guys inside the dressing room. They have got nothing
but the best interest of the players at heart and they just wanted the
boys to play good cricket not quite realising that their presence in
the dressing room was putting a lot of pressure on them.
Q: It was reported that the players misbehaved with you in the dressing room. Is it true?
Law: I am not aware that the players were bad with me.
Q: Is it true that Tamim Iqbal had an altercation with you regarding the practice.
Law:
It was a dressing room talk and there was no malice. We just had a
conversation and it was done and dusted within a very short time.
Q: Don’t you think it’s unusual to change the captain and the vice-captain at the same time?
Law:
To be honest in international cricket anything can be tried with
injuries and certain decision that has been made can be better for the
players as well. At any stage you can change a captain and a
vice-captain. I don’t think it’s going to interrupt the progression of
the team. You know the new guy who comes in will have the full support
of the dressing room.
Q: Do you think you have got the chance to start a new journey with a new captain?
Law:
You can look it that way, but with Sakib we could learn a lot as the
partnership progresses which had already started. Now we have to start
again so you can look at it that way as well. In cricket field
basically they run themselves. The captain makes the decision but very
rarely the captain is the one who makes the decision all by himself. He
will consult his playing partners out there. So that will still be the
same, the new guy will ask for a lot of advice and it will be great to
have a guy like Sakib in the locker room for the new captain to ask for
advice while on the field and that is going to be a positive.
Q: Have you seen anyone with the captaincy material?
Law:
There is a lot of good players and a lot of good cricket minds and
with lot of passion for the game and for the country. I think you can
choose any one from the six people to do that job.
Q: How do you rate Sakib as a captain?
Law:
Look, what he has done...his performance has improved and only good
players can do so because it’s a tremendous pressure. Specially now
being here this probably is the biggest pressure cooker out for a
captain in world cricket. After captaincy he took it on and has done a
very good job.
Q: Your advice for Sakib?
Law:
Enjoy. Enjoy not having to deal with this [press] every five minutes.
Enjoy the release of pressure. Go and play even better cricket. That’s
what I am going to say to him...just think of it as a great thing. For
some people this [captaincy] becomes a burden to have this thrust upon
them. Now he is free to play cricket and not have to be scrutinised for
everything. It can work that way and it can be positive for him.
Q: Are you embarrassed with the overall situation?
Law:
It’s not an embarrassment for me. I am here to make the boys play
better cricketer. Let the cricket board do the hiring and firing.
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