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Whatmore still our man, says Bangladesh

CHITTAGONG: Bangladesh’s outgoing coach Dav Whatmore has no doubt where his loyalties lie ahead of the Test series against potential future employers India, captain Habibur Bashar said on Thursday.

Whatmore, whose four-year tenure with Bangladesh ends after the Indian tour, is regarded a strong contender, if not the frontrunner, to replace another Australian, Greg Chappell, as India’s coach. But any suggestions of divided loyalties were quickly dispelled by Bashar as the two teams geared for the first of two Tests starting at the Ruhul Amin stadium here on Friday. “Dav is a thorough professional. He is working hard as usual and is more keen than us that we do well in the series,” the Bangladeshi captain said.

Whatmore, 53, confirmed media reports he was a candidate for the Indian job, but stressed no formal offer had been made to him. “I am told some Indian officials are coming to Chittagong to watch the Test,” he said. “If anyone wants to speak to me, I will be happy to meet them.” Indian Cricket Board chief Sharad Pawar is among the top officials expected to watch the Test on Saturday and Sunday. Former captain Ravi Shastri, who is the Indian team’s interim coach for the Bangladesh tour, is on the Indian board’s seven-man panel that will pick Chappell’s long-term successor. India is expected to have a new full-time coach before the tour of Ireland and England starts in the last week of June.

Whatmore, a former Australian Test batsman, is regarded as one of the best coaches in the game ever since he masterminded Sri Lanka’s triumphant World Cup campaign in 1996. He returned from the recent World Cup in the Caribbean with his reputation enhanced after Bangladesh qualified for the second round for the first time and secured wins over India and formidable South Africa. Under Whatmore, Bangladesh secured their lone Test win against Zimbabwe in 2005, and won five one-dayers against established teams like world champions Australia, South Africa, India (twice) and Sri Lanka. Whatmore declined an offer by Bangladesh to remain with the team, saying he was looking for “new challenges.” All four Asian Test teams are seeking a new coach. While Chappell resigned after the World Cup, Pakistan coach Bob Woolmer died during the showpiece event and Sri Lanka’s Tom Moody opted to return home to coach Western Australia. afp

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