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Winning Whatmore seeks more

Sri Lankan cricket coach Dav Whatmore on Thursday said his team's strong performance shows the country's resurgence in international cricket.

"The results are encouraging and indicate the team is on the rise but we still have a lot more areas to work on before the 2003 World Cup," said Whatmore.

Sri Lanka on Wednesday took an unbeatable 2-0 lead in the three match one-day series against Pakistan and are poised to whitewash the hosts in the third match in Lahore on February 19.

"I would not call it a whitewash but I would like not to deviate from what we want to achieve, to be more competitive," said Whatmore, who was born in Sri Lanka but played seven Tests for Australia.

Sri Lanka beat Pakistan by 29 runs in the first match in Karachi and maintained their winning ways by clinching the second in Gujranwala by 34 runs.

"Playing Pakistan in Pakistan is not that easy but the young players have talent and the ability to take pressure fairly quickly, good ingredients to have better results," he said.

The 1996 World champions Sri Lanka faced an imbroglio after they failed miserably in their title defence in the 1999 World Cup in England.

"It's nice to be involved with youths who have terrific enthusiasm," he said.

After the World Cup a major shake-up in the team followed and experienced captain Arjuna Ranatunga was dethroned. Sanath Jayasuriya took over the reins of a young Sri Lankan team. Whatmore, instrumental in making Sri Lanka a force during his first stint as coach in 1995-96, was recalled.

"When I rejoined the selectors were interested in going along two paths, one-day cricket and Tests with an eye on the 2003 World Cup," Whatmore, 45, said.

Sri Lanka lifted the three-nation cup edging out World champions Australia and India in August. They then beat Zimbabwe 4-1 in the away one-day series.

"It was wonderful to beat Australia, the old enemy. Most people regard Australia, a little bit South Africa and to a lesser degree Pakistan in Pakistan as the yardstick to judge where any one team stands in international cricket," he said.

The Sri Lankan coach believes most countries are aiming for the 2003 World Cup in South Africa.

"Australia seems to have a strong side but like South Africa we are keen to have success along the way and in doing so trying to rebuild a team for the only major tournament of cricket, the World Cup," he said.

"I am not sure they will be forerunners in 2003 but all I am interested in is the team continuing to improve and that's needed for the right results," he said.

Whatmore refuted reports he fell out with former captain Ranatunga after the 1996 triumph.

"It has always disturbed me. I never had any problems with any senior player and in fact when I came back to Sri Lanka I phoned Arjuna; our relationship has been nothing but on a professional basis," he said.

"It's a fact that their exclusion is part and parcel of the way Sri Lankan cricket is heading but they still have got wonderful attributes to bring to the team in Tests, if selected."

Whatmore is confident his side will do its best to win the Test series against Pakistan.

"It's our objective; we are keen to have good showings."

The three-match Test series commences with the Rawalpindi Test, starting February 26. The remaining two Tests will be played in Peshawar and Karachi.