Dave Whatmore set to come back as Lankan coach

The Sri Lankan-born Whatmore, an architect of Sri Lanka’s 1996 World Cup victory who quit soon after the triumph amidst reports of differences with skipper Arjuna Ranatunga, had met with members of the board’s interim committee at London, board officials today said.

Whatmore, who is currently coaching English county side Lancashire, was ready to return on condition that he be given a free hand in team selection, chairman of the Sri Lankan Board interim committee.

Board chief executive Dhammika Ranatunga and interim committee vice-president S Skandakumar, who are in London to attend the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) meeting, approached Whatmore to take up the job again.

Sri Lanka turned to Whatmore after England’s South African coach Bob Woolmer, former West Indies batsman Viv Richards and former South African batsman Barry Richards declined offers owing to prior commitments, officials said.

Whatmore, who lifted Sri Lanka into a fighting unit ahead of the 1996 World Cup, left following differences with Arjuna Ranatunga, who expressed his opposition to hiring foreign coaches.

The Aussie’s return is seen here as a major setback to Ranatunga, who is under fire to quit his post following his his team’s abysmal performance.