Buzz builds on Whatmore

Bangladesh received Test status seven years go, but the BCCI is yet to invite them over for a single Test, forget a series. So why would a high-profile delegation from the Indian board hurry across to Chittagong, when Bangladesh cricket..

Bangladesh received Test status seven years go, but the BCCI is yet to invite them over for a single Test, forget a series. So why would a high-profile delegation from the Indian board hurry across to Chittagong, when Bangladesh cricket operates from Dhaka, for a day8217;s visit?

It turns out that the reasons could be three-fold: 8220;strengthen ties8221; with Bangla-desh with the ICC president8217;s election just around the corner, by handing out a one-day series sometime next year, even a Test series; get the players8217; feedback on the new coach; and tap Dav Whatmore.

Such was the BCCI8217;s hurry that even Bangladesh Cricket Board BCB officials are understood to have been a bit taken aback by the Chittagong visit, though it was later officially declared that the Indian officials had received an invitation.

Shah, though, confirmed that he 8220;had a 15-minute closed-door meeting8221; with Whatmore though he wouldn8217;t divulge any details. Board vice-president Rajiv Shukla, who was part of the Indian delegation, said: 8220;Whatmore is certainly a frontrunner but that8217;s all up till now. The board will study the situation well before they hire a new coach. It needs to keep the players8217; interests in mind like everything else.8221;

Meanwhile, BCB secretary Mahbub Anam refused to comment on whether Pawar 038; Co had actually sought a meeting with Whatmore. But he did walk the tightrope by saying: 8220;BCB was pleased to host the Indian officials, but the exact purpose of their visit might also have been personal to some extent.8221;

But when questioned further, Anam8217;s irritation was quite clear. 8220;There8217;s a Test match on, isn8217;t there?8221;

Apparently, Pawar 038; Co cut through the ice yesterday during dinner with senior BCB officials at the Chittagong club, where plans for a tri-series in 2008 and a historic maiden India tour for a Test series in 2009 were discussed. Bangladesh8217;s vote will count for a lot when Pawar8217;s race with England and Wales Cricket Board chairman David Morgan for the ICC8217;s top post is decided next month 8212; it seems to be 5-5 now with England, Australia, South Africa, West Indies and New Zealand on the other side.

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Meanwhile, talking to reporters in Chittagong, after the third day8217;s play of the first Test washed out, Whatmore said that he would first take a three-week 8220;vacation8221; to 8220;recharge8221; in Melbourne before looking ahead. 8220;Let8217;s see what happens on June 4. We will all know if I will be coming to India. No, I haven8217;t been called to Bangalore for any presentation or anything. But then, my record speaks for itself,8221; he said.

BCCI secretary Niranjan Shah earlier said he was 8220;satisfied8221; with his 8220;brief meeting8221; with Whatmore and would report his feedback to the seven-member committee, which meets in Bangalore on June 4.

The committee includes three former skippers 8212; Sunil Gavaskar, Ravi Shastri and S Venkataraghavan 8212; besides Pawar, treasurer N Srinivasan and joint secretary M P Pandove, with Shah as the convenor.