The South African great, who had to leave charge of the Bangladesh team in May 2000 after suffering a stroke, has been following the team whenever he gets the chance.

Barlow, who lives in England, watched Bangladesh play during last year's ICC Champions Trophy and also was present at the Lord's during the Tigers' debut at the 'mecca of cricket' in the first Test against England.

Expected to see Bangladesh's one-day match against Australia at Nottingham on June 25, Barlow visited Derbyshire for a warm-up match on Friday.

Talking to Bangladeshi journalists at the executive lounge of the Derbyshire Cricket Club, Barlow once again expressed his love for the newest Test nation was still burning.

"I saw Bangladesh as a home for me and Kelly. We stayed there for 13 to 14 months and it was wonderful experience for us. I would love to go back and see those wonderful people who cared for us most. I will go back when the possibility arises," said Barlow, who was director of coaching in Bangladesh from 1999-2000.

"I always want to see the team that I had worked with and the present cricketers. That's why whenever I get a chance I don't want to miss the opportunity to see them in action."

There has been a lot of negative criticism about Bangladesh's recent performances but Barlow dismissed them.

"Well, one can always be critical. I'm embarrassed whenever they play a bad game. But Dav Whatmore is now in the best position to say about it. He is a respected coach and I don't like someone jumping at the chance to be critical and say what has to be done.

"My position was quite simple. I got sick and tired of criticism all the time and I've also read an article in English newspaper about Bangla-desh. But my question is when South Africa beat Australia 5-0 in a Test series in 1970 should we have kicked Australia out of Test cricket because they got beaten so badly?"

Barlow, whose development plan is still the base of operations for the age-group development pro-gramme of the Bangladesh Cricket Board, also continued his support for the Tigers.

"Now we are talking about globalisation of cricket and someone thinking a team not playing the way they should have liked and should be kicked out is rubbish."