Cricket Board To Release Whatmore After Sharjah Tourney (12 Oct 1996)

12 October 1996

Cricket Board to release Whatmore after Sharjah tourney

By Sa`adi Thawfeeq

The Sri Lanka Cricket Board decided at its Executive Committee meeting Friday to release Sri Lanka-born Australian cricket coach Davenall Whatmore from his contract at the end of the threenation Champions trophy tournament in Sharjah next month.

Whatmore who was contracted to the Cricket Board for two years from June 1995 signed up with English county Lancashire for the 1997 season during the four-nations tournament in Kenya this month.

He requested the Cricket Board to release him before February 1 next year in order to take up his new appointment, although his contract won`t expire till May end next year.

Whatmore cited `personal and domestic reasons` for not renewing his contract.

Meanwhile, the Cricket Board is keen on signing a coach from either Australia or South Africa to fill Whatmore`s vacancy.

Cricket Board sources said the post will be made open to all and advertised universally, but admitted they were in favour of someone from outside undertaking the job rather than a local.

Not in Kandy

Kandy has been ruled out as a venue to hold the second unofficial 4-day cricket test between Sri Lanka `A` and West Indies `A` due to prediction of rainy weather by Kandy cricket authorities.

The `Test` will now be played at the SSC grounds. The first and third `Tests` will take place as scheduled at Kurunegala and Matara respectively.

West Indies `A` are due to arrive in Sri Lanka at the end of the month for a nine-match tour.

Source :: Daily News (https://www.lanka.net)