Whatmore upbeat before World Twenty20

Pakistan coach Dav Whatmore was upbeat on Friday about his side’s chances at the World Twenty20, welcoming the opportunity for his players to prepare in the Sri Lankan league. Nearly all Pakistan’s players selected for the September 18 to October 7 tournament in Sri Lanka feature in this month’s Sri Lankan Premier League (SLPL). Whatmore, 58, who was appointed in March and coached Sri Lanka to their 1996 World Cup title, said his players will get good practice in the venues where the World Twenty20 will be held. “There is an opportunity for some of the boys to participate in the SLPL and it’s a good thing and I have no problem with it,” Whatmore told reporters at the National Cricket Academy. “At least they are playing on ground and in the similar conditions and in those two grounds where we are going to play our matches,” said Whatmore of the event where Pakistan is placed in Group D with Bangladesh and New Zealand. “There are a few other [countries] doing the same thing and they are getting good practice.” Pakistan take on Australia this month and next in a limited overs series in the UAE, comprising three one-day matches and three Twenty20s. “We will do our best to perform in the conditions, which are close to the conditions in Pakistan, but certainly it won’t be in Pakistan. “The selectors have given us a group of players who are competitive enough to give us the right results and win the games.” The first one-day match will be played in Sharjah on August 28. The next two matches will be in Abu Dhabi on August 31 and Sharjah on September 3. The three Twenty20 matches will be played in Dubai on September 5, 7 and 10. Whatmore said Pakistan can do well in the World Twenty20. “Every team has started taking this form of the game more seriously... we have a good team for this format,” said Whatmore. Pakistan were runners-up in the inaugural World Twenty20 in 2007, won the 2009 event held in England and finished semi-finalists in 2010 in the West Indies. The coach said all teams have good squads but warned “it’s a volatile form of game”. Meanwhile, controversial former fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar threw his hat into the ring on Friday to become Pakistan’s next bowling coach. Pakistan have been hunting for a bowling coach since appointing Australian Dav Whatmore as head coach in March, with former Essex paceman Ian Pont the leading contender. Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) set up a three-man committee to find a suitable candidate but so far nothing has been finalised. “I am ready to be the bowling coach for Pakistan,” Akhtar, 37, told reporters. “If the PCB contacts me then I will offer my services.” The paceman, whose career was plagued by fitness and discipline problems, retired from cricket after the World Cup last year and has since been involved in business. He took 178 wickets in 46 Tests and 247 in 163 One Day Internationals (ODI). “It’s an honour to serve the country and it can be done by helping the upcoming bowlers. It will give me a chance to pay back what the country has given me,” said Akhtar. Akhtar said Pakistan will miss fast bowler Umar Gul, not selected for the ODIs in UAE. “Both Gul and Brett Lee will be missed in the series,” said Akhtar. “But it will be a good series and bowlers will play a key role.” Lee, considered as quick as Akhtar, retired from international cricket last month.