May 12, 2006	Friday	Rabi-us-Sani 13, 1427

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NEW DELHI, May 11: Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore said on Thursday he was frustrated at the lack of Test cricket for his side over the next 12 months in the new six-year programmeme adopted by the sport's governing body.

“It is a bit of a pity really because we are making strides in the longer game,” Whatmore wrote in his column on the TigerCricket.com website.

In the new Future Tours programme (FTP) of the International Cricket Council (ICC), Bangladesh do not have any Test cricket until they play host to the Indian side in May 2007 after the World Cup in the Caribbean.

India, who backed Bangladesh's move into the Test arena in 2000, have not hosted their neighbours so far and are not slated to do so over the next six years despite repeated pleas by Bangladesh officials.

The ICC, which insists that each nation play on a home and away basis, left the matter to be sorted out by the respective boards.

“The issue of Bangladesh touring India is a matter between the two Boards and is still under consideration between them,” ICC spokesman Brian Murgatroyd said from Dubai.

With Bangladesh co-hosting the 2011 World Cup with India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, officials preferred to downplay what is seen as India's step-motherly treatment.

Bangladesh Cricket Board secretary Mahbub Anam said it was “not a deliberate move” by India to ignore its neighbours.

“I discussed the issue with Indian cricket board vice-president Lalit Modi and he assured Bangladesh that India was very much sympathetic to Bangladesh's cause,” Anam said in Dhaka.

“He assured us that the Indians would definitely play Bangladesh in a home series after the World Cup. The cricket officials of the two boards will work it out.

“Under the FTP, India has agreed to play two triangualar one-day series in Bangladesh which guarantees a lot of revenue for our board.”Whatmore, meanwhile, insisted Bangladesh deserved Test status despite losing 39 of their 44 Tests so far and winning just one against Zimbabwe.

“It annoys me when I read that Bangladesh doesn't deserve to be in Test cricket,” he said.

“That's absolute rubbish because the potential that lies in this country is enormous and given a sufficient amount of time we'll be able to be very consistent against any team.

“With a little slice of luck in a given era, Bangladesh could be the leading team in the Asian region. That's how deep I think the potential lies in Bangladesh.” —AFP