Mumbai coach braves bomb blast in Kabul
MUMBAI: For those in the Mumbai cricket fraternity who know him well, Umesh Patwal has been a bit of a daredevil.
Last Wednesday, he had a tough choice to make after a suicide bomb attack at the Kabul International Cricket Stadium, intended to disrupt a local Twenty20 league where Patwal is presently involved as a coach.
Patwal, t he only Indian involved i n the Shpageeza Cricket League, is the chief coach of Band-e-amir Dragons, captained by Rashid Khan, who made a sensational debut for Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2017.
Asked about his decision to continue when names like Herschelle Gibbs, coach of Speenghar Tigers, opted to return following the attack in which three people were killed and five wounded, Patwal calmly said: “Now, it (terrorist attack) can happen anywhere. It also helped that personalities like Dean Jones, who is a commentator, and Gus Logie (coach) decided to stay back.”
While the fear of bomb blasts and gun battles mark everyday life in war-ravaged Afghanistan, Patwal said that on the other side the passion for cricket among the masses has to be seen to be believed. “Cricket is a small community and we want to support Afghanistan cricket.”
Patwal’s bond with Afghanistan cricket is deep. He was Afghanistan’s batting coach during the 2014 World Twenty20 and the 2014 Asia Cup in Bangladesh and has been coaching their star players for more than 10 years now. The likes of Mohammed Nabi and Samiullah Shenwari have travelled to Mumbai often, to train with him.
As chief coach, even the other foreigners in his team depended on his inputs on the security situation.
“The morning after the blast, the president of Afghanistan, Ashraf Ghani, called us (participants) over for breakfast and himself briefed (us) about the security situation, assuring everyone of their safety. It helped calm the nerves of everyone,” said Patwal.
His family has been calm about his trips to Afghanistan, but this time they panicked. “They calmed down when I told them about the assurance given by the president.”
Now, things are better in Afghanistan and cricketers from countries like England, South Africa and West Indies have felt confident enough to play there. Patwal has dared to be in Kabul even when danger lurked.
“This is my third tour of Afghanistan. I first came here about seven years ago and stayed for a camp for 25 days. That time I used to roam around, walk to the Board office from my hotel, went sightseeing.
“This time we have to follow a security protocol. I have been for dinners to players’ homes, including captain, Asghar Stanikzai, and coaches.”