Pakistan's batsman Sohaib Maqsood, left, gets advice from head coach Dav Whatmore during his team's net practice at the UAE's Sharjah cricket stadium on Sunday. Asif Hassan / AFP
Pakistan's batsman Sohaib Maqsood, left, gets advice from head coach Dav Whatmore during his team's net practice at the UAE's Sharjah cricket stadium on Sunday. Asif Hassan / AFP
Pakistan coach already had intention to leave as his contract will not be renewed in February but Pakistan could go to No 1 in T20 rankings before he leaves, writes Paul Radley.
DUBAI // The Pakistan coaching merry-go-round will stop for Dav Whatmore to get off at the end of February after it was confirmed Tuesday his contract will not be extended.
The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) had been under pressure to act following a poor run of results, which culminated in their 4-1 series defeat in the one-day international series against South Africa here.
Both Whatmore and Misbah-ul-Haq, Pakistan’s captain in Test and 50-over cricket, have suffered criticism because of the team’s form slump.
However, the board said yesterday that Whatmore had signalled his intention to leave the role next year, anyway.
“Whatmore had informed the PCB that he would not be seeking a renewal of his contract due to his personal and family reasons,” the board said in a statement yesterday.
“Under the circumstances, the PCB and Whatmore have mutually agreed to conclude the contract on February 28, 2014.”
Whatmore’s potential successor might already be in the UAE, too. Moin Khan, who has been the team manager for this series against South Africa, has been mooted as a possible replacement.
Waqar Younis, who was in charge the last time Pakistan played South Africa here, three years ago, and is here as part of the TenCricket commentary team, has also been talked of as returning.
From the evidence of his demeanour at yesterday’s training session, Whatmore will complete the remainder of his duties over the next three months through gritted teeth.
Despite their miserable form in 50-over cricket here, Pakistan’s players will get the chance to start afresh this evening when they face the Proteas in the first of two Twenty20 internationals at Dubai Sports City.
Remarkably, given the gloom which currently seems to surround Pakistan, they could go to No 1 in the T20 rankings with success here.
Mohammed Hafeez, their captain in this format, says the players need to take greater responsibility for the team if they are to beat the South Africans.
“All the players feel they have to take more responsibility as a team member,” Hafeez said.
“It is not about seniors or juniors, it is about every single member of the team. We all have to play a part wherever it is required.
“We all realise the mistakes we have made in the ODI series. We have two seniors coming back into the T20 team, Shoaib Malik and Abdul Razzaq, and that will help the team gel. I personally feel this team will give a better account.”
Hafeez believes his Pakistan side are most comfortable in the shortest format of the game, when they can play “fearless” cricket.
“The one-day game has changed a lot in recent years but T20 is just as it started,” he said.
“We know as a team the plans we can execute in T20. We are looking forward to these two matches, we know this format well, we can play fearless cricket and express ourselves.”
Faf du Plessis, who takes South Africa’s captaincy reins in the 20-over matches, said Pakistan should not be discounted despite their apparent malaise.
“Pakistan are very dangerous,” Du Plessis said. “They have a lot of matchwinners and that is what Twenty20 cricket is all about.
“If one guys gets 70 or 80, or their bowling attack gets four wickets quickly, it can make the difference and they have those dangermen in their side.
“I think the weakness their batting line-up showed in the one-day matches is not as crucial because in Twenty20 cricket there is a shorter period of time.
“They are a dangerous team and we are going to have to play really well to beat them.”
pradley@thenational.ae
MATCH INFO
Asian Champions League, last 16, first leg:
Al Jazira 3 Persepolis 2
Second leg:
Monday, Azizi Stadium, Tehran. Kick off 7pm
Know before you go
Jebel Akhdar is a two-hour drive from Muscat airport or a six-hour drive from Dubai. It’s impossible to visit by car unless you have a 4x4. Phone ahead to the hotel to arrange a transfer.
If you’re driving, make sure your insurance covers Oman.
By air: Budget airlines Air Arabia, Flydubai and SalamAir offer direct routes to Muscat from the UAE.
Tourists from the Emirates (UAE nationals not included) must apply for an Omani visa online before arrival at evisa.rop.gov.om. The process typically takes several days.
Flash floods are probable due to the terrain and a lack of drainage. Always check the weather before venturing into any canyons or other remote areas and identify a plan of escape that includes high ground, shelter and parking where your car won’t be overtaken by sudden downpours.
Position: legal consultant with Al Rowaad Advocates and Legal Consultants.
The bio
Who inspires you?
I am in awe of the remarkable women in the Arab region, both big and small, pushing boundaries and becoming role models for generations. Emily Nasrallah was a writer, journalist, teacher and women’s rights activist
How do you relax?
Yoga relaxes me and helps me relieve tension, especially now when we’re practically chained to laptops and desks. I enjoy learning more about music and the history of famous music bands and genres.
What is favourite book?
The Perks of Being a Wallflower - I think I've read it more than 7 times
What is your favourite Arabic film?
Hala2 Lawen (Translation: Where Do We Go Now?) by Nadine Labaki
What is favourite English film?
Mamma Mia
Best piece of advice to someone looking for a career at Google?
If you’re interested in a career at Google, deep dive into the different career paths and pinpoint the space you want to join. When you know your space, you’re likely to identify the skills you need to develop.
Sunday's fixtures
Bournemouth v Southampton, 5.30pm
Manchester City v West Ham United, 8pm
The specs
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The specs
Engine: Long-range single or dual motor with 200kW or 400kW battery
Treaty of Peace in Perpetuity Agreed Upon by the Chiefs of the Arabian Coast on Behalf of Themselves, Their Heirs and Successors Under the Mediation of the Resident of the Persian Gulf, 1853
(This treaty gave the region the name “Trucial States”.)
We, whose seals are hereunto affixed, Sheikh Sultan bin Suggar, Chief of Rassool-Kheimah, Sheikh Saeed bin Tahnoon, Chief of Aboo Dhebbee, Sheikh Saeed bin Buyte, Chief of Debay, Sheikh Hamid bin Rashed, Chief of Ejman, Sheikh Abdoola bin Rashed, Chief of Umm-ool-Keiweyn, having experienced for a series of years the benefits and advantages resulting from a maritime truce contracted amongst ourselves under the mediation of the Resident in the Persian Gulf and renewed from time to time up to the present period, and being fully impressed, therefore, with a sense of evil consequence formerly arising, from the prosecution of our feuds at sea, whereby our subjects and dependants were prevented from carrying on the pearl fishery in security, and were exposed to interruption and molestation when passing on their lawful occasions, accordingly, we, as aforesaid have determined, for ourselves, our heirs and successors, to conclude together a lasting and inviolable peace from this time forth in perpetuity.
Taken from Britain and Saudi Arabia, 1925-1939: the Imperial Oasis, by Clive Leatherdale
In the UAE’s arid climate, small shrubs, bushes and flower beds usually require about six litres of water per square metre, daily. That increases to 12 litres per square metre a day for small trees, and 300 litres for palm trees.
Horticulturists suggest the best time for watering is before 8am or after 6pm, when water won't be dried up by the sun.
A global report published by the Water Resources Institute in August, ranked the UAE 10th out of 164 nations where water supplies are most stretched.
The Emirates is the world’s third largest per capita water consumer after the US and Canada.
Earth under attack: Cosmic impacts throughout history
- 4.5 billion years ago: Mars-sized object smashes into the newly-formed Earth, creating debris that coalesces to form the Moon
- 66 million years ago: 10km-wide asteroid crashes into the Gulf of Mexico, wiping out over 70 per cent of living species – including the dinosaurs.
- 50,000 years ago: 50m-wide iron meteor crashes in Arizona with the violence of 10 megatonne hydrogen bomb, creating the famous 1.2km-wide Barringer Crater
- 1490: Meteor storm over Shansi Province, north-east China when large stones “fell like rain”, reportedly leading to thousands of deaths.
- 1908: 100-metre meteor from the Taurid Complex explodes near the Tunguska river in Siberia with the force of 1,000 Hiroshima-type bombs, devastating 2,000 square kilometres of forest.
- 1998: Comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 breaks apart and crashes into Jupiter in series of impacts that would have annihilated life on Earth.
-2013: 10,000-tonne meteor burns up over the southern Urals region of Russia, releasing a pressure blast and flash that left over 1600 people injured.
