Bangladesh gets ready for possible bidding war with India over Whatmore

DHAKA, April 6, 2007 (AFP) - Bangladesh cricket chiefs will convene an emergency meeting next week to discuss Dav Whatmore's future after he joined the race to succeed Greg Chappell as new coach of India, an official said.





India, one of the pre-tournament favourites, were upset by Bangladesh in the first match and also lost to Sri Lanka to post their worst World Cup performance since 1979.

"We've convened an emergency meeting of the board on April 10 when we will discuss the Dav Whatmore issue," Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) general secretary Mahbub Anam said.

"We have read some of his interviews in the media.

Before the meeting, we will talk to him about these interviews and reports. And then we will discuss all the issues in the meeting," he added.

Whatmore has emerged among the frontrunners to succeed fellow Australian Greg Chappell as coach of India, one of the hottest and toughest jobs in cricket.

"I'm definitely interested," Whatmore told Thursday's Times of India. Whatmore's contract with Bangladesh expires after the World Cup.

Chappell quit his job following India's disastrous World Cup.

Whatmore, who coached Sri Lanka to World Cup victory in 1996, has earned respect in Bangladesh aft