Malaysia’s head coach Whatmore grateful for Bangladesh opportunity

The Australian is back in Dhaka as Malaysia’s head coach and has welcomed the opportunity to work in Bangladesh again.

Malaysia are currently using the tour as preparation for upcoming tournaments, with the side facing Bangladesh’s HP team in two T20s before a three-match ODI series against Bangladesh Under-23.

Whatmore thanked the Bangladesh Cricket Board for providing Malaysia with quality opposition and training facilities.

“They have done a fantastic job hosting us and giving us some important training sessions. We have a very important tournament at the end of this month.”

Malaysia lost the opening T20 against Bangladesh HP by 89 runs, but Whatmore believes facing a stronger opponent is exactly what his team needs.

“We expected the opposition to be very strong. They are giving us a good test, and that is exactly what we wanted. We are losing. We lost heavily to a Chennai team last week as well. We needed that shock to get us out of our comfort zone and work hard to improve.”

He was encouraged by Malaysia’s bowling and fielding despite their heavy defeat.

“I didn't have huge expectations, but I'm not sure about you guys. We certainly should have done better. I thought we bowled and fielded quite well, took all our catches and got 10 wickets. But we also lost 10 wickets and didn't score enough runs to win. I know we are a better team than that.”

With Bangladesh now in Darwin for their first Test series in Australia since 2003, Whatmore, who coached that Bangladesh side, hopes the Tigers can put up a stronger challenge this time.

“Everyone is hopeful they can put up a contest, but not like the second innings of the practice match! That wasn't part of the plan. Mehidy Hasan Miraz batted very well in the first innings and scored a great hundred.”

He also praised Bangladesh’s emerging pace attack while expressing concern over the absence of Nahid Rana.

“You are missing Nahid Rana, aren't you? Nahid is a terrific player. Unfortunately, he has to be 100 per cent fit before he can return. The pacers are doing quite well. They are making their presence felt like Sri Lanka, India and Pakistan. The trend in this region is to develop good young fast bowlers, and Bangladesh is no exception.”