The Sunday Mail
ZIMBABWE national coach Dav Whatmore is expected back in the country early next month after which the 61-year-old is expected to finally sign a new long-term contract, The Sunday Mail has established.
Whatmore (61) took charge of the Chevron’s World Cup campaign on a short-term contract, but it has since emerged that the Australian will be coming back to Zimbabwe early next month to sign on the dotted line.
The national team’s technical setup has been a topic of discussion among cricket pundits after the Australian failed to return with the team upon Zimbabwe’s elimination from the World Cup earlier the month.
This fuelled talk of strained relations.
However, information gathered by this newspaper shows that talks between Zimbabwe Cricket and Whatmore are already at an advanced stage, with the two parties having agreed on most aspects of the long-term contract.
Only a fortnight ago, Whatmore hinted at staying with Zimbabwe Cricket on his Twitter account.
The tweet read: “Thanks to the team for all your effort and fans for all your support. We will be busy preparing for our next set of fixtures very, very soon.
Zimbabwe Cricket, for their part, have since come out to clear the air on Whatmore’s future, with their corporate affairs manager Nesta Vaki disclosing that they are expecting the coach back in Harare in a few weeks.
“I can confirm that Dav Whatmore is still very much part of the Zimbabwe Cricket family and we expect him back very soon.
“Talks have been held and he has already agreed in principal to a longer contract and matters will be finalised once he arrives.
“We were very much impressed with the work he did and the positive influence he has had on the team in the short time he has been with us. We look forward to working with him in the future,” she said.
Vaki, however, could not be drawn into commenting on changes that will be made to the technical team once Whatmore signs his contract.
“At the moment we (ZC) are still waiting on the report of the team’s performance at the World Cup, after which Whatmore will sit down with the relevant authorities and map out a clear plan and strategy going forward,’ she said.
