HAROON SIDDIQUI
LAHORE – Interim coach Mohsin Hassan Khan’s hopes of becoming the permanent Pakistan head coach ended after the unanimous selection of Australian Dav Whatmore by the coach selection committee on Wednesday.
The committee will submit final list to Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) chief Zaka Ashraf for approval within a couple of days. Talking to media men here at the Gaddafi Stadium, Mohsin said that he want to serve Pakistan cricket in any capacity and will accept the PCB decision on head coach whatsoever it would be.
Mohsin has been retained as interim coach for the Pakistan home series against England to be played from January 17 in the United Arab Emirates and he will be relieved from his job after the conclusion of the series.  It is also learnt that Mohsin Hasan be offered a job at National Cricket Academy (NCA) and it will depend on him to accept the offer or otherwise.
Whatmore will reach Pakistan on January 14, after the departure of Pakistan cricket team to United Arab Emirates, to finalise his deal and salary package and also discuss his role in team’s selection. His tenure will be for two years.
Dav Whatmore will assume his office charge after the approval of his nomination by the PCB chief prior to start of Asia Cup to be held in Bangladesh from March 1-12.  “There will be no additional batting coach but head coach will also work as batting coach,” said Intikhab Alam, head of coach selection committee, during a formal chat with the journalists.
His job duration will be for two years and he will be given responsibility of preparing the Pakistan team for the 2015 World Cup to be hosted jointly by Australia and New Zealand. Whatmore nomination was opposed by the some senior players due to his strict attitude but the PCB committee nominated him due to his hard working and strict attitude.  Whatmore earlier in 2007 also applied for the Pakistan coaching job, after the demise of South African coach Bob Woolmer, but due to players’ pressure former PCB chief Nasm Asharf preferred Australian Jeff Lawson but later he was sacked by Ijaz Butt.