'Under-fire' Whatmore says had accepted Pak coaching job for challenge, not money

Under-fire Pakistan head coach Dav Whatmore has insisted that he did not accept the challenge of coaching the national cricket team just for the sake of money.

The Australian has been criticised for his performances as coach since taking charge in March 2012 and indications are that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) might not renew his contract when it ends early next year.

According to the Daily Times, however, Whatmore, who is withdrawing a salary of nearly Rs. 1.6 million besides other perks, indicated that he was interested in carrying on with the job and said that he accepted the job because he wanted to get back into international cricket and work with a team that he feels could achieve a lot.

Stating that he believes that Pakistan can win the upcoming Twenty20 World Cup and other such assignments, Whatmore also said that compared to his previous coaching stints with the Sri Lankan and Bangladesh teams, Pakistan has been completely different, especially in terms of the provincialism factor, which dominates cricket in the country.

Whatmore further said that a player in the national team could be popular in one city but indifferent in another, adding that in other countries, one sees more nationalism in cricket.