Former Sri Lanka captain Arjuna Ranatunga has advised Pakistani players and the team management not to have Australian Dav Whatmore as their new coach, it is learnt.
Ranatunga, who captained Sri Lanka to the 1996 World Cup triumph with Whatmore as coach, is learnt to have given a "run-down" on the Australian during a chance meeting with manager-cum-coach Talat Ali in Scotland, where the team was to play two one-day games, according to reliable sources in the Pakistan team.
"Ranatunga was asked for his opinion about Whatmore, as he had worked for a number of years in the Sri Lankan team," a source said.
"Ranatunga during his talks with Talat and some senior players gave them a run down on Whatmore and eventually his advice was to avoid him," he added.
"Ranatunga did admit that Whatmore was coach when Sri Lanka won the 1996 World Cup, but said the players also had a big credit in this as well."
When Whatmore was Sri Lanka's coach he had problems with Ranatunga, and both spoke out against each other publicly.
Whatmore is one of the three Australians shortlisted by the Pakistan Cricket Board for appointment as the new coach and indications are that he and not compatriots Geoff Lawson or Richard Done might get the job because of his experience at working with Asian teams like Sri Lanka and Bangladesh.
Sources also said Talat had backed Lawson for the job when asked for his opinion by the PCB.
"Talat has advised the Board to go for Lawson with whom he is very impressed. In the team as well they are more votes for Lawson and Done than for Whatmore because some players are wary of Whatmore's background and man-management skills."
PCB Director Cricket Operations Zakir Khan, when contacted, said no final decision has been taken on the new coach.
"We are still studying the available options to us and a final decision would be made when the Ad-Hoc committee meets on July 15 or 16," he said.
