Fletcher calls it a day as England's coach

BRIDGETOWN, Barbados (AP):

DUNCAN FLETCHER has resigned as England cricket coach and will leave after the team's final World Cup match against the West Indies tomorrow.

Fletcher had come under increasing pressure as England stumbled out of the World Cup, losing by nine wickets withSouth Africa reaching the winning target with more than 30 overs to spare on Tuesday.

England were also thrashed 5-0 by Australia to lose the recent Ashes test series, and performed badly in the ICC Champions Trophy six months ago.

"I feel it is in the team's best interests over the long term that I should move on and seek a new challenge elsewhere," Fletcher said in a statement released yesterday.

"This has been a difficult winter for the team and for me personally, but I believe that my record as coach over the past eight years is one in which I can take great pride."

Tactics criticised

England's tactics in both forms of the game had been criticised as overcautious and unambitious, with Fletcher favouring the team that won the Ashes in 2005 over players in better recent form.

England and Wales Cricket Board chief executive David Collier paid tribute to Fletcher's service.

"He can be justifiably proud of a record which includes an Ashes series victory over Australia, a record eight successive Test wins and Test series wins abroad in Pakistan, Sri Lanka, West Indies and South Africa," Collier said. It is "is in no small measure due to his rigorous planning and excellent coaching skills".

National academy cricket coach Peter Moores and Sri Lanka coach Tom Moody have been linked with the England job.

England play a four-Test series against the West Indies starting on May 17.

Sri Lanka unlikely to re-sign Whatmore

DHAKA (Reuters):

THE BANGLADESH Cricket Board (BCB) appears unlikely to renew coach Dav Whatmore's contract after the Australian expressed an interest in the vacant India post.

"We will see what he wants and decide accordingly," BCB president M. Abdul Aziz told reporters yesterday.

The board is also set to decide on the fate of captain Habibul Bashar, who has been criticised for a string of recent poor performances.

Bangladesh beat India in the group stages of the World Cup in the Caribbean to advance to the Super Eights, but have only managed a victory over South Africa in their six subsequent matches to miss out on a semi-final berth.

Decision after cup

The BCB has formed a six-member committee to mull over the coach and captain situation immediately after Bangladesh return from the West Indies on April 26.

Sri Lankan-born Whatmore's two-year contract expires four days later and after he expressed an interest in the India post following Greg Chappell's resignation, the 53-year-old is not expected to renew his agreement with Bangladesh.

Should Whatmore leave, Bangladesh face a race against time to install an experienced coach for the home Test and one-day international series against India next month.

However, BCB sources have indicated that the board may ask Whatmore to stay on as coach until the end of the India series.

Malik named Pakistan captain

KARACHI (Reuters):

THE PAKISTAN Cricket Board (PCB) has named all-rounder Shoaib Malik as captain of the national team following the resignation of Inzamam-ul-Haq in the wake of the side's early World Cup exit.

The 25-year-old, who has played in 18 Tests and 137 one-day internationals, was handed the role until the end of the year for the Test and one-day squads.

His first assignment is expected to be a three-match one-day series against Sri Lanka next month.

"Malik has been appointed as captain with the future of Pakistan cricket in mind," PCB chairman Dr. Nasim Asraf said yesterday.

Turned down

The board overlooked senior batsman Mohammad Yousuf for the post, which was also offered to and turned down by Younis Khan earlier this month.

Younis, who had acted as Inzamam's deputy since 2005, cited personal reasons and stress for his decision.

Pakistan were eliminated from the World Cup after losing their first two games against the West Indies and Ireland. The day after the second defeat, coach Bob Woolmer was found murdered in Jamaica.

Malik said yesterday: "Our team has the capability of bouncing back from the early World Cupexit and we just need to get our confidence back that was dented after what happened in the last few weeks."