|
Whatmore set as head coach of cricket team
January 20, 2012
After the resignation of Waqar Younis as head coach of Pakistan Cricket team after cricket world cup 2012, the committee of Pakistan Cricket Board to find the new head coach constituted by Zaka Ashraf, chairman PCB finalised its recommendations for three coaching positions for the national team.
The committee compromised by Intikhab Alam as chairman while Zaheer Abbas, Col (R) Naushad Ali and Rameez Raja are the member of the committee which unanimously and picked Dav Whatmore as the head coach to replace Waqar Younis who resigned citing ailing health.
“Dav Whatmore has had most of his demands accepted by the board including the one that he will have say in selection matters and on his pay scale”. It also said that Whatmore had assured the PCB he would remain in Pakistan and work at the National Cricket Academy when he is free of commitments with the national team. Interestingly, no Pakistani captain or players have been consulted about former Sri Lankan and Bangladeshi coach’s possible appointment.
Whatmore who was born in Sri Lanka before emigrating to Australia as a child. A right-handed batsman and brilliant slip fieldsman, he scored prolifically in the Sheffield Shield for Victoria, going onto play seven Test matches for Australia during the Packer era with modest success. He retired in 1988-89 to pursue a career in coaching.
"It' was a huge responsibility on our shoulders," the head of the committee, Intikhab Alam, said adding that we received a lot of applications, both from foreign and local candidates and we had a thorough discussion on each of them and we have finalized our recommendations which sent to the Pakistan Cricket Board chairman."
"We have kept under consideration all the points that the chairman had mentioned and according to our recommendations the head coach will be a batting coach and there will be a bowling coach and a fielding coach. But I can't reveal you the names and a final decision will be made by the chairman." Alam said
The appointment of a full-time head coach will fill a slot that's been lying vacant for six months. Waqar Younis, the previous full-time head coach, had stepped down on health grounds, and Mohsin was named interim coach.
Whatmore, who's coached Sri Lanka and Bangladesh in the past, resigned as coach of Kolkata Knight Riders and has been invited to meet with the PCB this month. He masterminded Sri Lanka's famous World Cup win in 1996, and after a brief spell at Lancashire - where he saw them win a one-day double in 1998, and the National League in 1999 - went back for a second term. His greatest challenge, however, came in 2003, when he took over as Bangladesh's coach, and immediately brought a new optimism and discipline to a team that had not won a single match for four years.
Watmore already arrived in Lahore and had meetings with PCB chief Zaka Ashraf and also discuss what is believed to be the terms of his appointment as Pakistan's head coach. In the meeting, which was held in a very cordial atmosphere, he was introduced to the PCB Chairman. Mr. Whatmore while talking to the chairman observed that Pakistan possesses lots of cricketing talent and the Team has the ability to beat any opposition.
Former Pakistan fast bowler Aaqib Javed was named bowling coach for the England series but an official announcement about a full-time appointment is awaited. The PCB said recently that the head coach would also play a dual role as a batting coach.
If Whatmore's appointment is confirmed, he will take over from Mohsin Khan, the current interim coach of the national side. Mohsin was among the 30 people who applied for the coaching position vacated by Waqar Younis, but Ashraf reportedly said he wasn't qualified to take over the full-time role.
The sources said that the meeting between Watmore and Zaka Ashraf was held in positive way as Whatmore also get his first assignment with the Pakistan team will be the Asia Cup which will be held this year in March in Bangladesh.
“The contract copy has been kept ready, though Whatmore was yet to see the draft of it”, the source further added. “Whatmore has been staying at the National Cricket Academy (NCA) and had not expressed any security concern or even discussed safety issues with Alam”, the source close to the PCB said.
|