DHAKA, May 12: New Bangladesh coach Dav Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to World Cup victory in 1996, arrived in Dhaka on Monday ready for the toughest challenge in world cricket.

The former Australia international will sign a two-year contract starting from June 1 to coach a country who have failed to record a single victory since attaining Test status in 2000.

“It’s a huge challenge and I’ve always loved a challenge,” he told reporters. “I feel Bangladesh have more of a defeatist attitude than anything else. We need to change this base attitude for overall improvement.”

Whatmore replaces Sarwar Imran, who was appointed last month for an interim period after Pakistani Mohsin Kamal was sacked following Bangladesh’s dismal World Cup showing.

Bangladesh visit Australia in July and host England in October and November.

Whatmore said he planned to apply the techniques he used with Sri Lanka to bring success.

“Technique, physical fitness, running behind the wickets, fielding, mental toughness,” he said.—Reuters