Who's next?

Once the issue over Bangladesh national cricket coach Dav Whatmore was settled, rumours were rife in the cricket scene about his successor.

Whatmore, who worked with the Tigers for four years, will not renew his contract with the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) but the Sri Lankan-born Australian has decided to see the team through next month's home series against India.

From the board's point of view it was too early to mention a name as five nations including three from the sub-continent are searching for new coaches.

"We have a list in our hand. We have also talked with a few of them but it is unwise to mention names because a number of countries are looking for new coaches," said a BCB high official, who is also a member of the six-man committee formed to handle the issue.

But it couldn't stop the guessing-game: especially with the media desperate to find a clue about the next Tigers coach. One might be surprised but there are a number of big names have come in for discussion including that of Australia great Steve Waugh.

"The board is trying to get Steve Waugh," a private TV channel mentioned.
The names of former India coach John Wright and current Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody were doing the rounds. If it is not, then they focused on second-ranked names from Australia, South Africa, Sri Lanka and New Zealand.

"High profile coach? Why not?" was a smiling answer from the board official.

The six-member committee will meet today but not only to discuss about the coach issue but also about a possible next captain.

Although the board officials said that they would only announce the names of the captain and his deputy for the two-match Test and three-match one-day series against India after the selectors picked the team, debate has also been raised over Habibul Bashar's fate.

There is a strong opinion going around the cricketing and media circle of a possible split in captaincy for the home series among the committee members, but former captains Akram Khan and Aminul Islam want a rational approach from the officials about the issue.

"Let us leave the issue on Bashar. We should respect a player who has a lot of contribution to our cricket. I think it is best to leave him alone to take the decision whether he will continue his one-day career. Bashar is the best judge in this matter," said Akram.

"Before calling it a day, the board should give an answer if they have any plan about the issue. I don't know what is it. Are they looking forward to the next World Cup or only the coming series," he added.

Aminul termed the coming home series against India a very crucial event after Bangladesh's stunning five-wicket success against the same opponents in the World Cup in West Indies.

"This is a very crucial time for our cricket after a bright performance in the World Cup, so we must put a check on our emotion. We should understand one thing that the expectation is high with the series against India and that's why we have to give a second thought before leaving out a proven skipper (Bashar)" said Aminul, who however raised questions about the capability of the six-member committee.

"As a captain Bashar was successful except for the Ireland match, but he has totally failed as a batsman. But tell me how many batsmen in the team were successful in the tournament? We must take one thing in our consideration that a coach like Whatmore is no more with us and that's why it is a risk to make the side unstable right at the moment," he added.