Dav Whatmore has been unveiled as Zimbabwe’s new coach, replacing Stephen Mangongo, who was in charge for five months and sacked 12 days ago. Whatmore will take Zimbabwe to the 2015 World Cup with a view to extending the deal after the tournament.
Zimbabwe are the fourth international team Whatmore will take charge of and the first non-subcontinental side he will coach after Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and Pakistan. He had success with all three, winning the 1996 World Cup with Sri Lanka, overseeing Bangladesh’s first Test win and a World Cup win over South Africa in 2007 and helping Pakistan achieve stability after years of the opposite.
It was while coaching Pakistan that Whatmore had a sight of the Zimbabwe team in 2013. Zimbabwe came back from a Test down to draw the series 1-1 and Whatmore saw “potential,” which he hopes to develop. His immediate task is to qualify for the quarter-finals of the World Cup, which would mean emerging from a pool that includes South Africa, India, West Indies, Pakistan, Ireland and UAE.
“I know this team, I have seen them beating Pakistan, so the potential is there,” Whatmore said, at a press conference in Harare. “What we all require is a genuine effort, a duty of care to the employer and a collective effort. There are challenges with every position. Coaching is what I do and I enjoy doing it. That’s why I am here.”
ZC will also name a batting coach to assist Whatmore soon. Douglas Hondo remains the bowling coach, with Givemore Makoni the convener of selectors.
Mangongo, meanwhile, has been redeployed to the lower levels of the system. “[He] will not be the coach of the Under-19s, but will assist with talent identification up to that age group,” Wilson Manase, ZC chairman said.
