The new Pakistan cricket team coach Dav Whatmore has shown he meant business as he spent most of his time this week at the Rawalpindi cricket stadium where the National Super Eights T20 championship is underway. Whatmore along with fielding coach, Julian Fountain have been present at the Pindi stadium for all the matches since Monday. “They come to the stadium before the start of the first match and leave late night all the while watching the players in action and taking down notes,” a board official said.
The official said that Whatmore was expected to have a meeting with the chairman of the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Zaka Ashraf after the tournament as he was planning to set up a conditioning and training camp for a shortlisted players picked from the National Super Eights event. “It is clear that Whatmore wants to have a close look at the young talent in Pakistan and get a chance to work on them with Fountain,” another official said. Whatmore’s presence at the national tournament has also prompted national selectors to be present at the venue. Pakistan’s next international assignment is tour to Sri Lanka, starting late May. Whatmore took over as Pakistan coach before the Asia Cup, where Pakistan beat Bangladesh in the final to win the title after 12 years.
The board has given him an initial two-year contract to work with the team but officials say the contract can be extended depending on the results Whatmore produces. A board official also confirmed that they have got encouraging response for the position of bowling coach with the national team, which was advertised with a deadline of March 23. “Mostly local coaches have applied but there are also some foreigners interested in the job,” he said. The PCB advertised for a bowling coach after Aaqib Javed’s resignation from the position. The PCB chief has said that he was keen to appoint another professional coach, who can help Pakistan produce the best bowlers. “The committee is handling the appointment of the bowling coach. We have experts on that committee who will be dealing with that matter. I don’t involve myself in their day to day work, but just ensure that they are doing their job properly,” Ashraf said.
“My personal preference is to appoint the best person for the job, irrespective of whether that individual is from Pakistan or outside. We want whoever is appointed to be a professional coach and help us in producing the best bowlers and to give those bowlers the best techniques,” he added. Sources said that the board would be taking Whatmore’s input before appointing a bowling coach as he has to work on the support team under the Australian.
