Whatmore to quit after India series

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Coach Dav Whatmore will end his stint with Bangladesh cricket after next month’s home series against India, Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) confirmed yesterday.

Whatmore has decided not to renew his contract with the BCB but will continue his job to guide the Tigers in the two-match Test and three-match one-day series against their next-door neighbours.

“Dav Whatmore has communicated this decision over phone from the West Indies citing personal reasons but he has agreed to an extension of the contract by one month in order to facilitate the preparation and performance of the national team for the ensuing tour of India to Bangladesh,” informed BCB general secretary Mahbubul Anam.

“We have had a very cordial discussion and I must thank him for agreeing to extend his tenure for a month which actually gives us an opportunity to find a suitable replacement,” he added.

Whatmore’s contract expires at the end of this month.

The Sri Lankan-born Australian, 53, coached Sri Lanka to 1996 World Cup triumph and took over as Bangladesh coach in June 2003 before getting a two-year extension in 2005.

Under his tutelage Bangladesh not only reached the second round in the ongoing World Cup in the Caribbean but also won their lone Test match against Zimbabwe.

He also coached Bangladesh to great victories against cricket giants Australia, India (twice), Sri Lanka and South Africa in one-day internationals besides success against the run down Zimbabwe and many ICC associate member countries.

“Definitely he has made a great contribution to raise the standard of our national team,” Mahbub heaped his praises on Whatmore, who had irked the board officials by expressing his desire to work for India in the middle of the World Cup.

The bearded organiser also informed that Dav’s successor will announced in due course.

“What I can say right at the moment is we are looking for a suitable replacement,” he added.

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