The Sri Lanka Cricket Board (SLC) is on the verge to reintroduce world cup winning coach Dav Whatmore to resurrect junior cricket in the island, Cricket Age reliably learns.
Whatmore, 65, is currently associated with India’s domestic team Kerala at coach. According to sources, he is expected to rejoin Sri Lanka cricket setup as a new kind of post called ‘Cricket Development Coach’.
“Currently, the talks are going on with Mr. Whatmore to bring him back in Sri Lanka cricket. President Shammi Silva has himself taken the task and most likely Mr. Whatmore will join Sri Lanka cricket to oversee our junior cricket, A and emerging team’s collectively” a top SLC official told Cricket Age.
As a player, Whatmore played 7 tests and a solitary ODI for Australia. However, he will be forever rememberd in cricket history as a coach who guided Sri Lanka to its greatest achievement of winning the 1996 world cup. That particular victory, under Sri Lanka’s greatest ever captain Arjuna Ranatunga, transformed island is one of the superpower of world cricket.
Apart from Sri Lanka, Whatmore also coached Pakistan, Bangladesh, Zimbabwe, Indian Premier League franchise Kolkata Knight Riders and has been considered as one of the most sought after coach in world Cricket.
“Mr. Whatmore knows everything about Sri Lanka cricket from the junior to top level. In order to bring Sri Lanka Cricket back on track, he is the best person to guide junior, Emerging, A team and development squads” the SLC top official added further.
Currently, Sri Lanka Cricket is on ventilator, even though the previous administration, led by Thilanga Sumathipala, brought Chandika Hathurusingha and Asanka Gurusinha to top most coaching posts. Even after getting Millions as salaries, both they turned out white elephants for Sri Lanka cricket and contributed more on destroying the game in the Island, rather than uplifting the standard.
After the world cup, Sri Lanka Cricket is expected to go for another transformation period and SLC is banking on Whatmore to bring things on the track.
