<p>"It was not my opinion to drop Sourav. It was a collective decision of the team management not to bid for the 38-year-old southpaw at the auction," Whatmore told reporters.<br /><br />"However, Sourav was offered the position of brand ambassador of the team, but there was no response from his side," he said.<br /><br />Referring to the upcoming World Cup, the 56-year-old former coach of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh said that India had a good chance to perform well.<br /><br />He admitted that Australian team is going through a transition phase after legends like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath retired from international cricket.<br /><br />"The sudden vaccum had caused the present crisis. But don't forget Australia are three-time champions," said Whatmore who is in-charge of youth development programme of Cricket Association of Bengal.</p>
<p>"It was not my opinion to drop Sourav. It was a collective decision of the team management not to bid for the 38-year-old southpaw at the auction," Whatmore told reporters.<br /><br />"However, Sourav was offered the position of brand ambassador of the team, but there was no response from his side," he said.<br /><br />Referring to the upcoming World Cup, the 56-year-old former coach of Sri Lanka and Bangladesh said that India had a good chance to perform well.<br /><br />He admitted that Australian team is going through a transition phase after legends like Shane Warne, Glenn McGrath retired from international cricket.<br /><br />"The sudden vaccum had caused the present crisis. But don't forget Australia are three-time champions," said Whatmore who is in-charge of youth development programme of Cricket Association of Bengal.</p>