What do you think Partex or for that matter Grameenphone would do under this situation? The former would sack him immediately, before lunch was served, and the latter would close its doors to him forever because he would not spare a thought to mete out the same treatment to them.

It's almost like the classic tale when a woman questions a debauch married guy about to leave his wife what guarantee was there that he would not do the same thing to her in two years time? Whatever the answer, they get married and to a great extent live unhappily ever after. But that's India's choice now.

For the second time during his contract Bangladesh cricket coach Dav Whatmore has uttered that he would like to coach India. The first time he was rejected and India decided to wed its cricketing future to Greg Chappell -- a failed marriage, but that's another story. While the name of Sri Lanka's Tom Moody (till now the most successful of the lot and how quietly so) has been mentioned every time Greg sank deeper into controversies, Dav's eager-beaver reputation did not carry well with the Indian media.

The question is whether, when a World Cup is going on and we are a participating team, and when the remaining matches against England, West Indies and Ireland are our best chances to redeem our depleting pride in the tournament, should Dav Whatmore have looked at another woman?

While some (including Dav) may want to attribute Bangladesh's five-wicket World Cup win against India as the outcome of the coach's genius, they seem to forget that we were immediately battered successively by Sri Lanka (by 198 runs) on March 21, Australia (10 wickets) on March 31 and New Zealand (9 wickets) on April 2 in the same tournament, presumably as a result of the same coach's mastermind. On March 17 we would have beaten India even if they were coached by Dav Whatmore and us by Greg Chappell. That's how much better we played on that day.

Dav has opened his door even to English-speaking teams (in case his proposal to India falls flat) by saying that he had a successful stint with the Lancashire cricketers. Dav says he is comfortable with cricketers who do not speak English, but as the coach he should know better that every player in the Bangladesh ODI and Test squads can read the Times of India. Which is where he laid bare his wanton desire.

Bangladesh cricketers looking up at him as a father figure can only be devastated. Is that why they are faring so poorly since the Indian win? There should be an inquiry, or will it be an inquest? As I have said before, a coach must be ready and willing to sniff the bouquet as well as taking the lion's share of the brickbats (DS April 21, 2006).

However much he may flaunt his coaching ability at the expense of Bangladesh, Dav may well be reminded that India will NOT want a coach who can beat them; they want a coach who can beat the others.

There is no reason why a paid person who can hit his charge below the belt during an ongoing tournament should be given any respect or respite. And this is not the first time.

His greed and ingratitude have given rise to the insanity in him. Or else, how can a fighter pilot in mid-flight radio ground that he has applied for citizenship of an enemy country? Cricket is war Dav, and you know the consequence of betrayal.

Conclusion: Throw him out, before the lunch break. It is far better that a nation pays an individual his due rather than the ungrateful individual insults that nation.

The author is former Advisory Sports Editor, The Daily Star