April 08, 2007	Sunday	Rabi-ul-Awwal 19, 1428

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GEORGETOWN, April 7: Bangladesh captain Habibul Bashar insisted on Friday that coach Dave Whatmore's interest in taking charge of the India team has not been a distraction at the World Cup.

Whatmore, who has been instrumental in guiding Bangladesh to the Super Eights for the first time, has declared his interest in replacing Greg Chappell, who quit as India coach after their shock exit in the Caribbean.

But Whatmore, also an Australian like Chappell, has upset the Bangladesh Cricket Board with his public declaration of interest in the India job and officials in Dhaka have convened an emergency meeting to discuss the issue.

Habibul, whose team were playing South Africa on Saturday, said Whatmore has kept his thoughts on his future plans to himself.

“He (Whatmore) has been working very hard with us, and has given no indication that he's not enjoying himself here,” said Habibul of the coach whose contract expires next month.

“I don't want to talk too much about his thoughts. It's purely for him to decide. But our performance shows what kind of hard work he has put in,” said Habibul whose team defeated India by five wickets to progress to the Super Eights.

In the second round, however, Bangladesh have been thrashed by Australia by 10 wickets and were handed a nine-wicket mauling by New Zealand.

The defeats have sparked an extreme reaction among Bangladesh fans who before last week were celebrating their team's rise.

Habibul shrugged off the public reaction.

“It's not so much pressure, it is more expectation. We expected to do a lot better in the last two games because we have been playing good cricket. The pressure should not be used as an excuse,” said Habibul whose effigies have been burnt by fans in Dhaka.

“If you don't do well, criticism will be there,” added Habibul, who has so far managed just 105 runs with one half-century in the tournament.

Also out of form is vice-captain Shahriar Nafees who is likely to be rested for the South Africa match. He was dropped for the defeat to New Zealand and replaced by Javed Omar.

“Shahriar needed a break and the decision was taken only after talking to the batsman himself. We had a word with him, and he thinks the break will help him,” said Habibul.

Paceman Tapash Baisya has also been ruled out of the World Cup with an ankle injury and his replacement Farhad Reza will only arrive next week.—AFP