BCCI satisfied with Whatmore meeting

NEW DELHI: After a series of denials on Saturday, BCCI on Sunday said that they have discussed with Dav Whatmore his interest in coaching the Indian team.

BCCI Secretary Niranjan Shah said he was "satisfied" with his "brief meeting" with Whatmore in Bangladesh and would report his feedback to the seven-member committee appointed to find a new coach for the Indian team.

"I met with him yesterday. I will report the details to the committee," Shah, who returned from Bangladesh on Sunday morning, said.

"I am satisfied with the meeting. It was a brief meeting, it lasted for 5-10 minutes. Whatmore expressed his desire to coach India," he added.

Shah along with BCCI President Sharad Pawar, Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty and Vice President Rajeev Shukla were in Bangladesh on Saturday on an invitation from the host board.

Both and Shah and Pawar denied during their press briefing that the purpose of their visit was to have a discussion with Whatmore who has emerged as a major contender for the post vacated by Australian Greg Chappell.

Asked about the turn of events, Shah said, "Whatmore wanted to meet me. I couldn't say 'no'."

The BCCI Secretary had earlier said that the seven-member committee, which includes former captains Ravi Shastri, S Venkataraghavan and Sunil Gavaskar, would meet in Bangalore on June 4 and the new coach would be named four-five days later.