The Board has already decided to send the likely players to Pakistan to play in a first-class competition. Now the affluent BCB has set an ambitious plan of hiring a mini army of aides to assist coach Dav Whatmore during the Tigers' second trip to the Southern African nation.

Bangladesh will head out for Zimbabwe in January to play two Tests and five one-day internationals.

Whatmore after spending his Christmas holidays will get down to business from January 4. He will have half a dozen assistants to prepare the team for what is realistically Bangladesh's best shot at a Test win.

The newest member of the elite family has gone winless in their 26 previous Test appearances since November 2000 when they play India in the historic first Test.

Interestingly, Trevor Chappell, who coached the team during Bangladesh's maiden away series against Zimbabwe in 2001, has been asked to help Whatmore improve the fielding.

Trevor, who was sacked after the home series against Pakistan in 2002, will work as fielding coach for 16 days starting from January 5.

He will be the fourth Australian in the support staff to the national team after Whatmore, physio John Gloster and trainer Dean Woodford.

The hiring of so many technical persons goes against the present Board's cautious approach adopted so far. Perhaps belated wisdom has dawned on Ali Asghar's wise men, which totally messed up Bangla-desh's ill-fated World Cup campaign in South Africa by banking on the expertise of ex-Pakistan paceman Mohsin Kamal.

The BCB is also planning to hire three more temporary assistants to help the team improve in bowling, batting, and even sports psychology.

"We have chosen Trevor to improve the standard of our fielding. Besides, we are looking for experts in individual departments," said BCB advisor and chairman of cricket committee Mahbubul Anam while confirming the appointment of the youngest of the famous Chappell brothers.

Trevor had worked as Bangladesh national coach for eight months before being replaced by another unsuccessful coach Mohsin in 2002.

Anam said that Sri Lankan born Australian coach Owen Mattau would be brought before the start of the national camp. He will look after Bangladesh's long tail during his three-week stint.

The Australian influence does not end there as Anthony Stewart, an Aussie sports psychologist, will impart his first of four sessions in a year covering ten days per session.

Besides, Mahbub said that BCB is also trying to get a biochemist cum bowling coach also from Australia. Although he did not wish to confirm the name but it was learnt that former Pakistan bowling coach Daryl Foster is a leading candidate.

If the impressive list seven experts for 15 players in not enough than the Board has arranged a two-week pre-conditioning tour of Namibia starting in the last week of January.

It is certainly going to be the most intensive preparation the Tigers have ever faced before landing in Zimbabwe on February 10.