Intikhab Alam speaking with PakPassion.net from Lahore confirmed that Whatmore would be arriving in the first week of March to sign his contract and would be unveiled to the media as Waqar Younis’ permanent replacement.

By Saj Sadiq (24th February, 2012)

Australian Dav Whatmore will arrive in Pakistan in early March to be formally announced as the Head Coach of Pakistan's cricket team with the Asia Cup in Bangladesh being his first assignment.

Intikhab Alam speaking with PakPassion.net from Lahore confirmed that Whatmore would be arriving in the first week of March to sign his contract and would be unveiled to the media as Waqar Younis’ permanent replacement.

The PCB had constituted a coaching committee last September to find a new coach after former captain and fast bowler Waqar Younis resigned for personal and health reasons. Former Pakistan captain and Coach, Alam was appointed as Chairman of the Committee and has been quite vociferous about his preference for an overseas appointment, rather than retaining current interim appointment Mohsin Khan who has overseen series wins against Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and a Test series whitewash of England in the UAE.

Alam stated “Dav Whatmore will arrive in early March to sign his contract. I can’t give you the exact date yet as that has not been verified, but everything is in place for him to take over with his first assignment being the Asia Cup in Bangladesh.”

Alam who was Head Coach for both the 1992 World Cup win in Australia and the Twenty20 World Cup win in England feels that the appointment of Whatmore will mark the launch of exciting times for Pakistan cricket.

“Whatmore has a proven record and I feel that his appointment will be an exciting one for the Pakistan cricket team. The team under Misbah’s astute leadership have gelled and continued to show great signs of improvement over the last year or so. I feel that Whatmore will add more professionalism to an already improving team and will take this team to greater heights.”

Alam further confirmed that Julien Fountain will arrive in Pakistan to take over as the fielding coach after his current assignment with Dhaka in the Bangladesh Premier League.

“Fountain who has previously worked for the PCB will arrive in Pakistan straight from Bangladesh where he is working with the Dhaka Gladiators. Our fielding continues to trouble us and I hope that in Fountain we will have someone who can address this issue that has troubled Pakistan cricket for a long time.”

Alam refused to confirm the length of the contracts for either Whatmore or Fountain, but PakPassion understands that Whatmore had requested a 2 year contract from the Pakistan Cricket Board, as well as a say in selection matters.