Zim Cricket intensify hunt for coach

ZIMBABWE Cricket will soon advertise for a new national team coach as the search for a substantive mentor intensifies.

The ZC board held a meeting after the end of the second Test between Zimbabwe and New Zealand last week where an agreement was reached to make public the hunt for a new coach.

This was after the private route did not yield any favourable results. A source familiar with the process confirmed that the Tavengwa Mukuhlaniled ZC board had decided to advertise the post with the target being to have a new coach by the time of the Sri Lanka tour in October.

“ZC are going to advertise for the post of national team coach, the idea is to have the new coach in time for the Sri Lanka tour. Some unknown coaches have tried their luck but ZC are looking for someone with the necessary experience,’’ said the source.

Sunday News Sport have it on good authority that ZC have tried to lure former South African coach Gary Kirsten as well as ex-India batsman Rahul Dravid but the two were not keen on taking

the job.

ZC’s long term plan is to lure former Zimbabwe batsman Andrew Flower as the national team coach and if that fails they will settle for Heath Streak. Flower is currently employed by the England and Wales Cricket Board as technical director of elite coaching.

Makhaya Ntini, initially hired as the bowling coach has been the interim mentor since Davenell Whatmore was sacked at the end of May. Ntini has so far taken charge of the limited overs series against India in Harare and the two Tests with New Zealand in Bulawayo.

But his failure to come up with a winning formula has led ZC to continue hunting for a substantive coach.