DHAKA, April 20: Bangladesh have extended the contract of their Australian coach Dav Whatmore for two more years until 2007. “The Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) feels that it was important to have continuity and to ensure that the bright young talent that has been introduced into the squad in his tenure continues to have his influence through to the 2007 Cricket World Cup,” the BCB said in a statement on Wednesday.

Bangladesh will visit England in May, playing two Tests and taking part in a triangular one-day series also involving world champions Australia.

Bangladesh have played 36 Tests since 2000, winning one, drawing four and losing 31 matches.

They have won nine of their 106 One-day Internationals, including a victory over Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup.

Whatmore’s current two-year deal with the board was to expire on April 30.

Whatmore said he was keen to stay with the Bangladesh team though he has been linked with the Indian cricket team following the departure of New Zealander John Wright.

Under Whatmore, who guided Sri Lanka to World Cup triumph in 1996, Bangladesh won their first Test series by beating a young Zimbabwe side in January this year.

Whatmore is now with the team in Chittagong preparing for Bangladesh’s maiden visit to England in May.

“Whatmore is a very good coach and under him Bangladesh team has already prospered,” cricket board president Ali Asgar Lobby said confirming the new deal.

“He now knows the players, people and the local conditions here. Under him, I am confident the team will prosper further.”

“Some years from now, Bangladesh should be able to make an impact,” Whatmore said.

Bangladesh have won just one of 36 Tests and lost 31, with the remaining four drawn since gaining Test status in 2000.

In one-dayers, they have managed nine wins in 106 matches, including a victory over Pakistan in the 1999 World Cup. Bangladesh also beat India for the first time last November in Chittagong.—Agencies