Zimbabwe Cricket has appointed Australia's
former international Dav Whatmore as national coach ahead of the 2015 World
Cup, a top union official announced Tuesday.
Whatmore replaces Stephen Mangongo who was fired less than two weeks ago
over the national side's poor showing during a recent tour of Bangladesh.
"His initial assignment is to see us through to the World Cup," Wilson
Manase, Zimbabwe Cricket chairman said, "and thereafter we shall work out
another long term contract."
"He has a wealth of experience at the highest level of coaching."
Whatmore, 60, who has previously coached Bangladesh, Pakistan and Sri
Lanka, will be assisted by former Zimbabwe international Douglas Hondo who will
also be the bowling coach, Manase said.
Zimbabwe cricket dismissed Mangongo as cricket coach after the national
squad lost all eight fixtures during a tour of Bangladesh just two months
before the World Cup.
A "very pleased" Whatmore said he has already set his sight on Zimbabwe
reaching the Super 8 at the World Cup in Australia and New Zealand in February
and March next year.
"We are going to be as competitive as possible, our first target is to make
that Super 8. We will work really hard to try and achieve that," he said.
