Pakistan begin hunt for new coach

KARACHI, Jan 22 (AFP): Pakistan cricket authorities Tuesday began the hunt for a new head coach for the national team, a day after Dav Whatmore's two-year tenure ended with a series-levelling victory over Sri Lanka.

The Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) said in a statement it "has invited applications for the positions of head coach, batting coach and fielding coach for the national team".

Whatmore, a former Australian batsman who was born in Sri Lanka, was hired for a two-year tenure in March 2012. Last month he announced he would not seek to renew his contract after being criticised by former greats and interim chairman Najam Sethi.

The PCB said a committee including former stars Wasim Akram, Javed Miandad and Intikhab Alam would evaluate the applicants, with the decision to be finalised before next month's Asia Cup in Bangladesh.

During Whatmore's tenure Pakistan failed to win a Test series, losing to South Africa 3-0 in 2013 and Sri Lanka 1-0 in 2012, and drawing with Zimbabwe and South Africa 1-1 also in 2013.