THE decision to fire Dav Whatmore 18 months into his four-year contract will cost cash-strapped Zimbabwe Cricket over US$400 000, informed sources say.
A source close to the 62-year-old Sri Lankan-born Australian coach said: “Whatmore has met ZC and has given them a figure he is prepared to accept as a severance package and is now waiting to hear from them. Although I cannot give the exact figures involved I can safely say the amount is on excess of US$440 000.”
A diplomatic Whatmore refused to talk figures but confirmed that negotiations were underway between him and his former employers.
“I am a professional; first and foremost, I wish to put that on the record. I have no desire to talk ill about (ZC) and as far as I am concerned relations are still good,” he said. “The reason I am still in the country right now is that there is the pending issue of my package which I need to sort out with Zimbabwe Cricket before I leave.
“Unfortunately, I cannot go into specifics but I am hoping to have it sorted out in the coming weeks. After that I intend to go to Sri Lanka and then Australia to go and see my wife and mother.”
ZC public relations and media manager Darlington Majonga said they were guided by confidentiality clauses: “As you know, these matters are strictly between ZC and Whatmore himself.”
While Whatmore says he has no ill will towards ZC, the much-travelled coach’s associates said the way he was jettisoned shook him to the core. “I spoke to him just the other day and he was pretty shook up by the whole incident.
He was with the team in Bulawayo for a short a camp and already planning for the India tour when they called him up and delivered the news.
“Dav thinks the whole issue could have been handled better but that does not mean that he will seek to play hard ball with ZC because he loved working here and he is a gentleman,” said a Whatmore associate.
ZC and Whatmore parted ways a fortnight ago after the board fired the 62-year-old coach as well as skipper Hamilton Masakadza just a few days before India arrived for their ongoing tour.
South Africa cricket legend Makhaya Ntini has since been appointed interim coach while spin bowler Graeme Cremer has taken over from Masakadza.
Former skipper Tatenda Taibu is the new convener of a selectors panel that will also include the head coach, his assistant and the national team captain.
Conant wrote:Former skipper Tatenda Taibu is the new convener of a selectors panel that will also include the head coach, his assistant and the national team captain.
So, for the upcoming NZ tests, Taibu, out of touch with local cricket for years and currently residing in UK, Ntini and Klusener, less than 6 months and 6 weeks in the country, and Cremer would select the team. No one except Cremer has any exposure to what happened in the last domestic season (even in his case, not much). How can they select a team?
Clearly, Zeihl and Chawaguta at least had exposure to the domestic setups and the up and coming talent.
Conant wrote:Former skipper Tatenda Taibu is the new convener of a selectors panel that will also include the head coach, his assistant and the national team captain.
So, for the upcoming NZ tests, Taibu, out of touch with local cricket for years and currently residing in UK, Ntini and Klusener, less than 6 months and 6 weeks in the country, and Cremer would select the team. No one except Cremer has any exposure to what happened in the last domestic season (even in his case, not much). How can they select a team?
Clearly, Zeihl and Chawaguta at least had exposure to the domestic setups and the up and coming talent.
You are assuming the selection panel actually chooses the team?
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes
We are assuming these guys play any better with a coach. To be honest I can't really tell the difference in the team's performance from one coach to another. May as well let Mangongo do it for free, at least he has a passion for the game, doesn't put up with slackers, and isn't a ZC admin puppet.
Neil Johnson, Alistair Campbell, Murray Goodwin, Andy Flower (w), Grant Flower, Dave Houghton, Guy Whittall, Heath Streak (c), Andy Blignaut, Ray Price, Eddo Brandes
