Didn't have any security problems in Pakistan: Dav Whatmore

Been moving around freely, I don’t have any problems in terms of security, says Whatmore.

LAHORE: Pakistan cricket team coach Dav Whatmore, while expressing disappointment over the Bangladesh team's decision to cancel its tour to Pakistan over security issues, said on Sunday that he did not have any problems in terms of security for the two months that he had spent in Lahore.

“From my point of view … I was born in Sri Lanka and lived through a civil war there and I am now staying in Lahore for the last two months where I have been moving around freely and I don’t have any problems in terms of security and if I knew more areas in Lahore I would be visiting more of Lahore,” said Whatmore.

He said that by the end of the first week of May, a selection committee will be looking at certain players and will make a final selection for the “next engagement” by the end of May.

“Boys who are based in Lahore are still working pretty hard which is a good thing, it’s not a competition phase yet but they are working pretty well.”

“Once it is known to the people of the world that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is planning on Pakistan Premier League (PPL), I am sure there will be a lot of international cricketers who will be looking that their schedules to see when they are available to come and enjoy playing in Pakistan for a couple of weeks,” said the coach.

Intikhab Alam, the PCB director of international cricket and a former national coach, said that the national selection committee has decided to hold a trial for six days to select 75 under-19 players. The selection process will start on April, 27.

“The process will be done in three phases. The idea is to show Whatmore and [Pakistan’s Specialist Fielding Coach] Julien Fountain the talent we have and also because we have to announce 30 players for the under-19 World Cup, which will be played in Malaysia.

Alam said that on the request of Whatmore, PCB was inviting 11 fast bowlers and that he will be looking after them. He also said that the board wanted to enhance the bench strength.