I am leaving with fond memories: Whatmore

Outgoing national coach happy to end his two-year tenure on a high.

KARACHI: Outgoing coach Dav Whatmore has said that he was leaving with a heavy heart and fond memories of Pakistan after his two-year contract with the national team comes to a conclusion in February.

Whatmore has left early after he had the choice of availing a month’s leave, which he had not taken and hence will not see out his contract till the end of February in Pakistan.

“The last two years have been terrific in terms of the challenges I had with Pakistan, but I am leaving with fond memories and a heavy heart,” Whatmore told reporters in Lahore on Friday.

Asked about his own assessment about the security situation in Pakistan, which has been a big issue for international teams, Whatmore stated that he felt safe in the country throughout his stint. He hoped that international cricket would soon return to Pakistan.

Coach satisfied with team’s showing

During his tenure, Pakistan failed to win a Test series, losing to South Africa 3-0 last year and to Sri Lanka 1-0 in 2012. Additionally, Pakistan also went on to draw a Test series against Zimbabwe 1-1.

However, Whatmore said he was satisfied with the team’s showing as it went on to win the Asia Cup in 2012, beat India at their home and won a one-day series against the Proteas in South Africa.

“I don’t like losing,” he said. “The Champions Trophy loss still sticks at my throat and losing to Zimbabwe was a very bad result for us.

“If you look at the stats, people might say I haven’t changed the results substantially. But at the same time, everyone must see the opponents we had to play and the conditions in which we played.”

He further added that he was leaving his charge on a high as Pakistan had recently secured a stunning series-levelling victory against Sri Lanka in Sharjah. The 59-year-old ended his tenure with the team successfully chasing down a daunting 302-run target on the final day.

Published in The Express Tribune, February 1^st,  2014.

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