Australian coach Dav Whatmore reached here on Saturday to have negotiations with the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) officials over taking up the head coach's assignment for Pakistan's cricket team. Dav Whatmore was received at the Lahore Airport by the officials of PCB. Whatmore is the only candidate, among the 30, applied for the slot of coach of national cricket team, who arrived here for finalisation of terms and conditions of the job.
It may be noted that Whatmore had applied for the slot of coach of Pakistan cricket team in 2007 but finally former Australian pacer Geof Lawson was selected for this post. Dav Whatmore met head of coach committee Intikhab Alam here at National Cricket Academy to discuss matters pertaining to selection of coach of Pakistan cricket team.
Sources claimed that PCB had put off the announcement regarding appointment of new coach of national cricket team due to Pak-England cricket series at the UAE. Whatmore is due to return back on January 17 after meeting the PCB officials including its Chairman Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf.
Chairman Pakistan Cricket Board, Chaudhry Zaka Ashraf told reporters here on Saturday after participating in a reception organised by Zarai Taraqiati Bank Limited that he would meet Dav Whatmore on Monday. He said the PCB is looking for appointment of such a coach for national cricket team who could guide the team to become world champion.
According to him, no final decision has so far been taken vis-à-vis appointment of new coach. To a query, he said he had not received recommendations of Coach Committee. "We want such a coach who could also work at domestic level for the preparation of back up of seniors," he said. He said he had learnt a lot about Whatmore and he would meet him on Monday. However, he said appointment of new coach will be made after Pak-England cricket series.