June 07, 2007	Thursday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 21, 1428

DHAKA, June 6: Bangladesh authorities said on Wednesday the door was still open for former cricket coach Dav Whatmore to return after his bid for the vacant India job ended in failure.

“Our door is still open for Whatmore. He is a great coach and (the) Bangladesh team has improved a lot during his four-year tenure,” Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) general secretary Mahbub Anam said.

Anam, who heads the board's coach-hunting mission launched when Whatmore quit last month, said Bangladesh had not said goodbye to the Australian coach, noting: “He made the decision to leave the post.”

The BCB had reportedly offered an improved package after Whatmore decided to seek the high-profile job of Indian coach immediately after Greg Chappell quit during the World Cup.

But on Monday Indian authorities picked South African Graham Ford as frontrunner for the post and said Whatmore was out of contention.

The BCB this week made Australian Shaun Williams interim coach for Bangladesh's tour of Sri Lanka this month and said a new coach would be named later.—AFP