New head coach Dav Whatmore arrives in Nepal

Dav Whatmore, the World Cup-winning coach for Sri Lanka in 1996 and the recently appointed Nepal men’s national cricket team Head Coach has arrived in the country.

According to Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) officials, he arrived late on Sunday evening and has undergone quarantine for five more days before he is finally unveiled next week.

Whatmore is yet to meet the authorities of CAN. He will watch the ongoing PM Cup Men’s National Cricket Tournament after finishing his quarantine period in the lead up to a busy international calendar for the year.

Dav Whatmore has a remarkable coaching record, which includes a ODI World Cup title with Sri Lanka. He also brings coaching experience within the Associate game, having recently led Singapore. Expectations are high in Nepal, with Whatmore expected to take the side into the upper reaches of both the T20 and 50-Over World Cup qualification pathways. A place at a World Cup proper would be a significant milestone for coach and country.

Speaking about coaching an Associate country, coach Whatmore was quoted recently as saying, ‘their [Associate members] level of intensity compared to Full Members is not quite there. The amount of facilities you are exposed to is not quite the same. All this is expected of course. So I think you need to keep an open mind that these things exist. And if you’re not prepared to accept these things then it’s going to be a little harder to feel comfortable in that position.’  

The ongoing PM Cup Men’s National Cricket Tournament is showcasing some serious young and emerging talent in Nepal. It is will be interesting to see how Whatmore nurtures this talent and prepares players for the rigours of the international game.

Speaking of international cricket, Oman is scheduled to host Nepal and the USA in March 2021, for the next round of the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two fixtures. 

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