Published: Nov 13, 2013, 11:17 AM (IST)
Edited: Nov 13, 2013, 11:17 AM (IST)
Dav Whatmore will step down as Pakistan coach in February 2014 after deciding not to renew his contract © AFP
Karachi: Nov 13, 2013
The Pakistan cricket team’s Australian coach, Dav Whatmore, decided against renewing his contract after being left upset with Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chairman Najam Sethi‘s statements regarding his future.
A reliable source in the board told PTI that the PCB was forced to issue a press statement on Tuesday regarding Whatmore’s future with the national team after he informed them he no longer wanted to continue as head coach.
“Whatmore was not happy with a statement from the chairman, Najam Sethi in Abu Dhabi that the board would be reviewing contracts of the coaches,” the source said.
“Whatmore was also not comfortable with the presence and growing influence of manager, Moin Khan in the team in recent times,” the source added.
The PCB confirmed in its statement that Whatmore had asked to be released from his contract when it came up for review in February next year.
“Earlier this month Mr Whatmore informed the PCB that he would not be seeking a renewal of his contract due to his personal and family reasons,” the statement said.
Interestingly in a recent interview on Geo Super channel before the team left for the series against South Africa, Whatmore had said he would like to see Pakistan win the World Twenty20 next year and also hinted he would be interested in continuing as head coach.
In a related development, Mohsin Khan — the man Whatmore replaced as head coach in 2012 — on Tuesday came out with a statement that he would be interested in working as head coach if the PCB asked him to do so.
“I have served my country in any role they have wanted me to take up and there is no reason why I would turn them down if they approached me again. Yes if the PCB asked me to take up the role of head coach then I would accept the offer and I would be very happy to take up the role provided it was at the right time,” Mohsin told a cricket website.
