PCB not to renew Whatmore's contract

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) will reportedly not renew current coach Dav Whatmore’s contract, when it expires ahead of the Asia Cup in late February 2014.

Whatmore’s last assignment with Pakistan will be the upcoming Sri Lanka series in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), between December 2013 and January 2014.

According to the Daily Times, Whatmore was appointed head coach in March 2012 and Pakistan has failed to win a Test series under him, and have only won two out of the 10 matches they have played so far, following which sources claimed that the PCB has made the move.

PCB Interim Management Committee head Najam Sethi had recently said that although they are not against a foreign coach, they believe that such coaches are not able to communicate with most of the players freely as many of the players are not that well educated when it comes to English.

A top PCB official said that some players are not quite comfortable around Whatmore and the suggestion is to bring in a local coach.

Image: Dav Whatmore

Photograph: Dinuka Liyanawatte/Reuters