Corona or Cricket, Prabhakar Feels The Pinch At Both Ends

Reeling under economic slump of his beauty product chain due to Covid-19, Prabhakar is instead keen to resume his cricket coaching career; seeks out role with state association

Manoj Prabhakar

New Delhi: Manoj Prabhakar admits his 57^th birthday has been, in many ways, very unique. He loves his life up in the hills, the quietness of nature and the occasional thrill of sighting leopards around his vicinity. Yet he had never envisaged spending a month at his Uttarakhand farmhouse, all by his family.    

Corona virus and the subsequent lockdown has had an impact in his life as well, not just as an ex-cricketer or coach but also has the owner of an established multi-national chain of beauty products.  “Like every other individual, I too have felt the impact of Covid19.

Demand has gone down for beauty products and these days you really cannot even have the conscience or voice to pitch sales to our customers and dealers. When you are protecting your face and hands from this infection, where is the scope left now.

But I know it’s even tougher for my factory workers. I am living just close by my factory and doing the best I can for them, giving salary and also helping them in whatever other way I can. But I am not sure, how long this arrangement can go,” he says with a sigh of distress.

However, the former Indian all-rounder is more stressed at the lack of time on his hands and the opportunity to involve with Indian cricket. “By BCCI norms, I have probably three more years before I turn 60 and be eligible for coaching.

There is so much I want to teach the youngsters about the game, especially about the bowling,” he says. “We have a great fast bowling set-up in Team India. Our fast bowlers are really world class and it won’t be wrong to say that this attack the best in the world right now, even when you compare it with Australia, South Africa or England. But we cannot sit back and just watch them.

We have to keep grooming others at the domestic level and keep churning out fresh talent. That’s where I can really help,” he says

The former Afghanistan and Delhi coach says he’s waiting to hear from any state that may want his services. “It’s not about the money for me. Cricket and coaching is my passion and at this stage of my life I just want to do a stint with any state that is willing to take my services,” says Prabhakar, who has a very eventful career as a coach as well.

Prabhakar guided Delhi to Ranji Trophy final victory as bowling coach in 2008 before taking over as Afghanistan bowling coach and helped the team to the main World Cup. His return to domestic cricket at Delhi and UP was marked with run-ins against senior players before he helped Delhi again to Mushtaq ali trophy win and a Ranji final slot in 2017-18 season.

“I am still waiting for my next offer. I don’t know what else I could have done apart from delivering the results. There was no controversy yet my contract wasn’t renewed the subsequent year. I am hoping Delhi or some other state rope me in this season,” he says adding that he isn’t sure when the cricket season will resume again.

“It’s quite gloomy to see the world like this, with no sport. We have no idea when cricket will start again, if the IPL or the T20 world Cup will happen or not. Even in my playing days, I don’t think even we got such major breaks from cricket.

I mean where you cant even step out to knock a few balls or work on your bowling skills at the nets. So it’s going to be tough on bowlers to come back into rhythm straightaway and they will struggle a bit in the initial games,” he says.

Prabhakar, meanwhile, is hoping that the new BCCI set-up will help in clearing his dues and start his pension, which has been withheld since he served out the ban. The BCCI recently decided to clear the dues of former skipper Mohammad Azharuddin and hence Prabhakar is hoping that his plea will also be taken care of.

Prabhakar has been waiting patiently, for his dues from the BCCI or the due recognition from other states for his coaching expertise, and hopes that the coming season will give him some cheer.

The article has been written by ABP News Sports Editor GS Vivek