Former Australian cricketer and World Cup winning coach Dav Whatmore is coming to Nepal on January 21 upon an invitation from Bat & Ball Foundation, an organisation formed to assist the cricket community of the country. 

Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to their first and only 50-over ICC World Cup so far in 1996, will mentor the Nepali cricketers and coaches during his 18-day stay, informed Parash Shakya, Chairman of the Foundation which is also a wing of Basanta Chaudhary Foundation but runs independently. The Foundation will be launched on the sidelines of Whatmore’s visit. 

“This is an initiation from Bat & Ball foundation. Our idea is to give a message that Nepali cricket is doing quite well even at a time when it is struggling in terms of governance,” said Shakya an ardent cricket fan himself. “Whatmore is very helpful and down to earth person. We had approached him to conduct small camp as a teaching faculty for which he gladly accepted,” added Shakya. 

Whatmore is expected to conduct a fortnight camp for current national team cricketers and young players. Bat & Ball Foundation is coordinating with Cricket Players Association of Nepal for involving the players in the camp. The camp for cricketers will be preceded by a two-day coaching clinic. Whatmore’s camp comes at the time when Nepal are preparing for the ICC World Cricket League Championship home matches against Kenya set for March 13 and 14 at the TU Stadium.

Shakya hoped that Whatmore’s camp will be helpful for Nepali cricketers. “Whatmore is one of the most celebrated coaches in the world. Our boys can benefit a lot by his mentoring through his expertise, strategy designing and aspects of technicality,” Shakya said adding the Foundation will soon unveil its future plans.

Whatmore played seven Test matches for Australia and one one-day international before turning to coaching since 1990s. After guiding Sri Lanka to 1996 World Cup, he coached Bangladesh, Pakistan and Zimbabwe.