Almost 3 months into the job, Whatmore, in an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, spoke on a variety of topics including the role of the media in Pakistan, the domestic setup, the quality of players available for selection, and much more.

By Saj Sadiq (27th May 2012)

On the 4th of March, 2012 Dav Whatmore took on probably the most challenging assignment of his career when he took over from Mohsin Khan as Head Coach of the Pakistan cricket team.

Dav's coaching abilities have seen him oversee a Sri Lankan Team lift the World Cup in 1996. He also improved Bangladesh's performances as coach between 2003 and 2007 and coached them to their first Test match victory early in 2005. Bangladesh shocked the cricket world later that year with a victory over then top ranked Australia and then South Africa when they were top ranked during the 2007 World Cup, where they also defeated India to reach the Super 8 stage.

From 2009 to taking over the Pakistan role, Whatmore coached the Kolkatta Knight Riders in the IPL. 

Almost 3 months into the job and with the Asia Cup victory already under his belt, Whatmore, in an exclusive interview with PakPassion.net, spoke on a variety of topics including the role of the media in Pakistan, Pakistan's domestic setup, the quality of players available for selection, as well as on the subject of team selection for the Sri Lanka tour and much more.

PakPassion.net : How are things going in what some might term as “The Toughest Job in World Cricket”. Are you satisfied with things both on and off the field so far?

Dav Whatmore : Firstly, Pakistan is unique, compared to other ICC full member countries, in that we play both our home and away series offshore. Secondly, this is my first assignment where players are “Decentralized” which brings with it some logistical problems regarding facilities and consistent player monitoring.

Another aspect that really doesn’t help the National objective is the overpowering state parochialism in the media. Having a media that challenges poor decision making, or governance is completely acceptable; however simply taking a contrary stance, no matter what the topic, is unhelpful at best, and downright destructive in some instances.

But, that aside, I must say in all honesty I am happy with things both on and off the field.


PakPassion.net : You seem to have a very “Hands On” approach to coaching. You went to see the Under 19s at their camp, you have also been involved in the fast bowlers camp recently; how important do you think it is to see and work with the up & coming players as well as assisting the players within the current national setup?

Dav Whatmore : It is important to remember that success in my position is measured quite simply in a “Win: Loss Ratio”, so I must be mindful of the fact that as I will be judged on each team that competes; hence the need to play the strongest possible Xl wherever possible. That aside, it is important to allow young up & coming players the opportunity to play at the highest level possible and this is where a good A’ Team structure is important.

But I also feel that it is important to embrace cricket at all levels in whichever country you are based, in order to get a feel for the national cricket culture & structure. I have a real desire to experience as much of Pakistan as possible, both from a cricket perspective and beyond. I would love to get a taste for the cricket talent that inhabits Pakistan, wherever time allows me to.


PakPassion.net : It has been said, possibly unfairly, that Pakistani cricketers do not respond well to hard task masters and discipline. What do you make of the mindset of the current crop of players and how do they differ from other nationalities that you have worked with?

Dav Whatmore : Let me start by saying that whilst I have been described in the media as a “Disciplinarian” or a “Hard Task Master” that is certainly only one small part of my overall makeup or approach. In order to succeed as a coach it is vital to understand how to read a player, and to find out what motivates them. 

Every player is different, both in terms of physical ability or mental approach, so it’s important to know which approach is appropriate for each individual. Obviously we aim to run as professional a setup as possible, and part of that is structure, discipline and organization; however to focus entirely on discipline would be to lose sight of the many facets that make up an international cricketer.

Having only played seven tests and one ODI, my international career was not as extensive as many others; however I feel that this is an advantage as I had to work extremely hard as a player, so appreciate what these players are going through, having experienced it myself firsthand. A long Test or ODI career does not automatically give you the necessary requirements for coaching; there is a little more to it than simply having played the game.


PakPassion.net : The Pakistan cricket team has the reputation of being “Consistently Inconsistent”. As a coach what can you do to address this issue and do you think you can move Pakistan towards a more consistent performance level?

Dav Whatmore : Over the years, I think it is fair to say, Pakistan has had its fair share of both unforgettable and forgettable performances. In recent times the national team has definitely worked hard to shake it’s “Inconsistent” label. Their fantastic win over England in the Test series was an obvious example. 

An attribute shared by great teams is definitely consistency, across as many formats as possible so my aim is simply to help the players achieve their potential as often as possible. If we can achieve better, and more consistent contributions from the entire team we will be successful. 


PakPassion.net : The domestic setup in Pakistan has been criticized by some and applauded by others. What is your take on the set up, would you like to see some changes to it and do you intend to speak about the domestic setup with the PCB?

Dav Whatmore : Lets not forget, I have only been “in situ” since March 1st, so you will hopefully understand that it takes time to familiarize ones self with domestic competitions. Also, the domestic season has just finished and whilst we (Julien Fountain & myself) were fortunate enough to make it to the Faysal Bank T20 competition in Rawalpindi, which we both thoroughly enjoyed; there are no more domestic competitions for a while, so it is hard to make a considered opinion quite yet.

Having experienced cricket in a variety of countries, I think it is a well-accepted fact that it is hard to produce a strong national team if your domestic structure is weak. The jump from domestic cricket to international cricket is quite a big one, even in strong domestic structured nations; where domestically cricket is weak, that jump is far greater. You only have to look at any of the lower ranked ICC full member nations to see that perhaps what would help push them up the rankings is a stronger domestic structure, which would in turn, feed stronger players into the national setup.

Finally, it is also very important to ensure that once players are identified, they are constantly engaged in a “High Performance” environment. Now, more so than ever, it is vital to make a players transition between U19, ‘A’ Team and National Team as fluid as possible; all supported by a strong domestic structure.


PakPassion.net : There has been a distinct lack of “A” Team and Academy tours in recent times. How valuable do you think such tours are in developing talent and is this something that you will be looking to the PCB to address?

Dav Whatmore : I think I made my feelings on this subject very clear in my previous answer. It’s not just important, it is absolutely crucial for a national setup to have a specifically targeted fixture list for these feeder teams. 

Interestingly, in countries with strong domestic structures, what may have happened in the past is that an elite youth player, who has been groomed to be a match winner at U19 level may get lost in a domestic structure where they fall to the bottom of a team’s pecking order simply because of their age. 

This reduction in a player’s status from “Match Winner”, to simply the “Kid on the team” can have a detrimental effect as they lose the elite responsibility attitude they have gained.

What this means in cold hard terms is that the money spent on developing the player may be wasted unless that player is kept in the high performance environment, helping them to maintain (and surpass) the standards they have achieved previously.


PakPassion.net : What were the aims of the recent bowlers camp and would you term it a success? What do you make of the standard of fast bowling in Pakistan having worked with the bowlers at the camp and those currently in the national team?

Dav Whatmore : It was a tough three day exercise (not a camp !) given the high temperatures and the workloads, but I think everyone concerned found it useful. The selectors chose fourteen pace bowlers with a view to seeing them perform under “Match Conditions”.

For my part, I was pleased to see the depth of fast bowling talent already identified through various competitions, and I am certain there is plenty out there still to be identified. I think we could almost consider ourselves spoilt for choice, where fast bowling is concerned, and could probably select a second or third set across a variety of formats. What a fantastic problem to have !


PakPassion.net : Pakistani cricket lovers, like their quick bowlers and two quick bowlers that are currently catching the imagination are Zia ul Haq and Rahat Ali. What your thoughts on both of them please Dav and is Zia a long way away from international cricket?

Dav Whatmore : I too am a big fan of “Pakistan Quicks”, having faced them, both as a player and as a coach; even more so, now we are on the same side. There is no doubt that Pakistan has a rich fast bowling history, which is definitely set to continue an I hope I can contribute to that rich history.

I think it would be unfair, both to them, and to other players if I singled them out but what I will say is that they are both very talented players, who will both hopefully contribute greatly to Pakistan’s success in the future. 


PakPassion.net : You were obviously a coach at the IPL and the PCB are looking to set up a Pakistani equivalent of that tournament. What benefits can Pakistan cricket achieve from such a tournament both in the short term and the long term?

Dav Whatmore : There is no doubt that T20 has certainly taken the world by storm, with leagues cropping up all around the world; the IPL being the largest and most successful currently. What it brings to cricket and cricketers is a chance for local players to showcase their ability on a world stage along with the chance for them to learn from and understand other players (both foreign & domestic) as well as the obvious financial benefits to all concerned.

Another great aspect to T20 tournaments is the increase in fielding standards and the general increase in skills and tempo; all of which will benefit the national team further down the road.


PakPassion.net : The squads for the tour of Sri Lanka were announced recently. Is it fair to say that you had a major say in the make up of the squads?

Dav Whatmore : As Head Coach obviously I was able to voice my opinions to the selectors; however, to say I had a “Major Say” is possibly a misconception. We have a selection panel headed by a chief selector who are ultimately responsible for how the squads are chosen for each format. Theirs is not an easy job, and they value input from both myself and the captain; but ultimately it is their choice. 


PakPassion.net : Mohammad Hafeez has been appointed the captain for the T20side. What are your thoughts on his appointment and do you see him as the natural successor to Misbah in the other formats?

Dav Whatmore : The selectors have entrusted Hafeez with the T20 captaincy role for this tour of Sri Lanka. He has the backing of all the Players, the support staff and the PCB and he has shown great passion in his willingness to really take the role on and do the team and the country proud. As far as future roles are concerned, that is a matter for the selection panel to decide; but this is obviously a great opportunity for him to stake a claim for the role in the other formats.


PakPassion.net : Umar Akmal has been in and out of the Pakistan test side. He’s now been dropped from the test side for the tour of Sri Lanka. What advice would you offer him and where do you think he needs to improve as a batsman. Also what do you think is his best position in the batting order in all three formats?

Dav Whatmore : As I mentioned previously in response to a question regarding individual players ability; I don’t feel it is fair to pass comment or judgement on a player in a situation or forum where he is not able to respond. However, he is a very talented cricketer and we speak regularly on all aspects of his performance. I think he realizes that his performances will dictate which formats he will be selected or not selected for. 

This being the case, he will start to appreciate the areas of his game that need attention or improvement and if he is able to do this, he will open up more opportunities for himself. It is important to remember that there are some cricketers who are naturally suited to one form of the game rather than the other; so whilst we would like to see all players play all three formats, it is not always the right choice.


PakPassion.net : Another young batsman like Umar Akmal with an immense amount of talent and self confidence is Ahmed Shehzad. You’ve obviously seen Ahmed bat, what are your thoughts on Ahmed and where do you think he needs to improve in order to become a regular for Pakistan and a consistent performer?

Dav Whatmore : We have seen Ahmed make contributions both domestically and overseas. He is obviously a very talented batter, and is very keen to establish himself in the national team. We (the coaching staff) try to chat with him as often as possible, to ensure that we are aware of how & what he is doing. Ahmed, along with a few of the batters, needs to make sure he is confident of his own technique and ensure that he plays the batting role that is required at that particular stage of the game. 


PakPassion.net : The scouting network of identifying talent in Pakistan has been questioned by some and at times it seems to be more reliant upon luck than judgement. Do you have any plans to speak with the PCB regarding the scouting network particularly away from the major cities?

Dav Whatmore : Having only been in the position for a few weeks, it is still a learning process for me with regard to “Talent Identification” within Pakistan. I am lucky in that I have been involved in a wide range of cricket organizations globally, so have a cross section of experience in this regard. I will be certainly making recommendations to the PCB to try to simplify and expedite the scouting process as I am certain there are hundreds of potentially new national players out there. I have recently been told that there will be a “Pace Hunt” across the country, run by former Pakistan fast bowling legend Sarfraz Nawaz. This is definitely a step in the right direction.


PakPassion.net : Critics in Pakistan say that the Pakistan team are at their best when playing attacking cricket and they are making noises about Pakistan being a defensive side particularly in the shorter versions. Do you think this is a valid criticism and if so, is this something that you feel can be addressed or are you happy with the approach?

Dav Whatmore : I feel that most teams are at their best when playing attacking or aggressive cricket. However, playing aggressive cricket does not mean playing recklessly, as this defeats the overall objective and can make winning more difficult.

I like to see our batsmen play each ball on its merit, rather than trying to “Crowd Please” as this can be counter productive. I am sure most Pakistani cricket fans would rather see the team win consistently and rise up the rankings, than lose due to reckless cricket. In my opinion, we have the hardware, now we need to upgrade the software !


PakPassion.net : Haris Sohail and Usman Salahuddin are two of Pakistan’s brightest batting stars. Your thoughts on both of them please Dav?

Dav Whatmore : Once again these two players have both performed well domestically. They will both need to be patient to wait for appropriate opportunities in the playing eleven to contribute. There is no doubting their potential, but it is important to realize that there is a natural progression in a cricketers career path; and to cut corners by early inclusion can be detrimental as the player has not had the necessary grounding prior to international selection. Early inclusion may do more harm than good as failure may prevent further selection, denting the players confidence even more.


PakPassion.net : Mohammad Sami has had an indifferent international career. Whilst batsmen seem to mature with age and sometimes reach their peak in their30s. Do you think that a bowler who is now 31 can still offer the team something in all formats and bounce back in international cricket?

Dav Whatmore : Yes I do. Sami has forced his way back into the team through consistent performance both domestically and overseas in all forms of the game. He has shown the selectors that he still has what it takes to succeed. He is fit and has experience on his side. In the time I have spent with him, he has definitely focused on what he needs to do to contribute to the teams overall performance. At the end of the day we need players who can step up and contribute; if he is able to do this, he warrants selection.


PakPassion.net : The tour of Sri Lanka will, undoubtedly, be a tough one, even though the hosts do not have Murali and Vaas in their bowling lineup. How do you see the tour going and what are the aims?

Dav Whatmore : I have personal knowledge on how good the Sri Lankans are at home. Even without Murali, Vaas and others they will be a formidable opposition and will be difficult to break down. Our players are aware of this, especially after recent wins in the UAE they will be keen to settle a few scores. We go there with our eyes wide open expecting a good battle. Victory is foremost in our minds, but planning, tactics and skill execution will decide whether we are victorious or not.


PakPassion.net : How high is the Twenty20 World Cup in your list of priorities and do you think Pakistan have the firepower to win that Trophy in Sri Lanka?

Dav Whatmore : Any ICC event is important to Pakistan. The world T20 in September/ October is one we would like to do well in and due effort will be directed toward this format and our T20 squad. 

We are now selecting teams more suited to each format; which allows us to tailor our coaching toward more specialized roles and overall tactical gameplay.

We will certainly be planning well in advance of events such as the WT20, to ensure the players are as well prepared as possibly be it mentally, physically, technically or tactically.


PakPassion.net : Away from the cricket Dav, how do you and Julien spend your spare time in Pakistan, are you enjoying the food in Pakistan and are the locals treating you well?

Dav Whatmore : Both Julien & I are very comfortable here in Lahore and also in the other cities we have visited in the time we have been here. The food is great, people friendly, and we have both played a bit of golf when time has allowed.

I think that we both have extensive experience of working and living in this region, so that side of the job is never an issue. In fact, I would go so far as to say its actually an advantage as we can possibly achieve more here than in other countries due to the unique nature of Pakistan cricket.

Discuss!