KKR interviews Bevan, Reeve and Raman for coach job

Kolkata: Searching a coach for their IPL franchise, Kolkata Knight Riders’ think tank, including Sourav Ganguly, today interviewed three former cricketers.

Ganguly joined KKR`s principal owner Shah Rukh Khan and co-owner Jay Mehta in Mumbai to listen to former Australia batsman Michael Bevan, former England all rounder Dermot Reeve and former India batsman W V Raman`s presentations.

Raman, however, chose not to comment on the matter.

"I am in Mumbai but I am not talking about this. Nothing has happened as yet," Raman said.

Lalchand Rajput and Ashok Malhotra had given their presentations yesterday.

The Kolkata franchise, which sacked Australian World Cup winning coach John Buchanan after a disastrous last place finish in the second edition of the IPL earlier this year, is tight-lipped about the proceedings.

According to a Knight Riders insider, the team was looking for a blend of Indian and foreign coaching panel.

"Among the Indians there are some new names like (W V) Raman and (India fielding coach) Robin Singh. Others in the fray are Rajput, Chandrakant Pandit and Paras Mhambrey," he said.

When contacted, Pandit, however, said, "He is not aware of such a development. I am out of Mumbai."

The Knight Riders think-tank will also screen the likes of former Pakistan coach Richard Pybus, former England coach Duncan Fletcher and former India coach John Wright, who is expected in the country next week.

The source claimed that Wright was unlikely to get the job.

"Wright`s chances are slim. The team management is not happy with him after he said that he was running for the post. In the morning, it seems, Shah Rukh Khan had a word with him," claimed the source.

That Wright does not have an experience handling a Twenty20 side is a factor going against the New Zealander, he added.

Wright is currently in Chennai with New Zealand A side that is playing in the Buchi Babu Tournament.

"Moreover, he is a New Zealand selector and it would be difficult for him to devote full time to Knight Riders," said the source.

Bureau Report