Breaking News: Whatmore accepts India job!

[Rahul Khan]

MUMBAI, October 9 Former Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore has accepted an offer to become director of operations at India's national cricket academy (NCA). "He's going to be head of operations for three years," former India captain and NCA chairman Ravi Shastri said on Tuesday. Australian Whatmore, 53, had earlier been seen as a successor to Greg Chappell, who quit as coach of the Indian team after the first-round exit at the One-day World Cup in the Caribbean in March. However, Whatmore was surprisingly left off the short-list for the post when South African Graham Ford turned the job down in June. India has been without a coach since March and the board has advertised the post. Whatmore guided Sri Lanka to the World Cup in 1996 and helped unfancied Bangladesh reach the World Cup second round for the first time this year after a shock win over India. He is expected to start work at the academy at the end of the month.

[varun]

What does the director of operations at NCA do exactly ? Does he have any say in selection matters ?

[yoda]

India job - is that the job title? :haha:

[Lurker]

What does the directory of operations at NCA do exactly ? Does he have any say in selection matters ?

This has started to sound more like US Department of Defence job...Director of Operations at NCA :bowwow:

[Rahul Khan]

India job - is that the job title? :haha:

Thanks for the correction...:giggle:

[Chandan]

As Whatmore says, apparantly following are the plans for NCA: Dav Whatmore, the former Bangladesh coach, is set to become the first director of operations of the National Cricket Academy (NCA) in Bangalore. "I've agreed, but the announcement should come from the board ... I don't wish to break protocol," Whatmore was quoted as saying by the Telegraph, a Kolkata-based daily. "The contract is for three years and I'll be in Bangalore by the end of this month." Whatmore had been made the offer by Ravi Shastri, the NCA chairman. Looking ahead to the job at hand, Whatmore indicated that there were several plans for the NCA. "I'm excited and Ravi wants it to become a real finishing school. In fact, I'd like players from overseas too to graduate from there. "The specifics have to be worked out, but I expect the NCA to be operational for 8-10 months [in a year]. Eventually, one would like Indian coaches to impart all the training but, if needed, one may call specialists from overseas. However, one doesn't have to cross that bridge right now." Whatmore had been one of the leading contenders to replace Greg Chappell as India coach, but he wasn't even called for the interview by a panel which included Shastri. Whatmore, though, said that didn't affect his decision to take up the NCA offer. "I'd rather talk of the NCA," he said. "It didn't take me long to realise there's value in being associated with it. Plus, I can give something. I know Ravi's on the coach-appointing committee, but I didn't bring up what happened in June. I've known Ravi for a number of years. We understand each other well and I'm looking forward to a formal association with him." ------------------------------------------------------------------------ If NCA starts being functional for that long, and regular batches of players are chosen to hone their skills there with coaches getting the formal coaching education, umpires learning formally and many other things like spin clinic or pace bowling clinic etc held regularly, it'll be really good for Indian cricket.

[Rahul Khan]

tfs, Whatmore's whats and what nots!~