Dav Whatmore Takes the Helm as Director of Cricket in Malaysia

In a strategic move to elevate its standing in world cricket, the Malaysian Cricket Association (MCA) has unveiled an ambitious high-performance roadmap for 2025–2026. This new direction includes a revamp of the national coaching setup, a streamlined player development pipeline, and clearly defined performance goals aimed at propelling Malaysia onto the global stage.

A major highlight of the announcement is the appointment of Dav Whatmore as Director of Cricket. Whatmore, a renowned cricketing figure who famously coached Sri Lanka to its historic 1996 ICC World Cup victory, brings a wealth of experience from coaching roles with several full-member nations.

“Dav Whatmore is a proven leader with an exceptional track record,” the MCA stated. “His appointment is expected to help build a holistic cricket system in Malaysia—from grassroots to elite performance levels—and he will also spearhead the development of the national women’s team.”

Supporting this new vision, Bilal Asad has been named Head Coach of the National Men’s Team, while Rakesh Madhavan will coach the Men’s Emerging Team.

MCA President Mahinda Vallipuram emphasized, “Malaysia is known for hosting world-class cricket events. Now it’s time our teams reflect that same standard on the field. This new structure is a bold step towards qualifying, winning, and leading at the international level.”