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Dav Whatmore, who was interviewed by the Pakistan board this morning, said he was up to the challenge of taking on one of the more demanding jobs in world cricket.

Whatmore met the three-man PCB committee constituted to find a successor to Bob Woolmer, at Gaddafi Stadium in Lahore for nearly two hours. Speaking to reporters after, Whatmore said, “The interview went very well. It was a good discussion. Coaching the Pakistan team represents a challenge and if given this opportunity, I can produce good results. I think I am up to the challenge.”

Whatmore had expressed his interest in coaching India during the World Cup, though he was eventually discounted as a candidate by the BCCI. Pakistan had also expressed an interest in his services and he remained their top choice even despite his preference initially for the India position.

“I am here because I am interested in the job. I am a professional coach and this is an opportunity to work with a very good board and a very good team,” Whatmore said.

If appointed, it will be Whatmore’s third subcontinent assignment: he has coached Sri Lanka twice and was, until recently, Bangaldesh’s coach. “Each team carries different priorities and a different challenge. If you tackle them one step at a time, things can get better,” Whatmore added.

Zakir Khan, director operations PCB and a member of the committee that met Whatmore, confirmed only that the meeting had taken place, giving no further details. Whatmore is now on his way to Islamabad where he will meet Nasim Ashraf, chairman of the board. He is also due to meet the players, currently in a conditioning camp in Abbottabad, near Islamabad.

Whatmore is the last of three Australians the PCB have interviewed for the post left vacant since the death of Woolmer. Richard Done, ICC’s high-performance manager, and Geoff Lawson, former Test cricketer, were interviewed earlier this week and also met the chairman and members of the team.