Kolkata: The selection of the coach for Kolkata Knight Riders seems to be hotting up with more and more candidates entering the fray, Pakistan cricket legend Wasim Akram being the latest addition.
Just a day after his name was thrown in for the post of KKR coach, Wasim Akram has said that he is keen to give it a shot.
The former Pakistan captain said he was scheduled to meet Shah Rukh Khan on Sunday to discuss the assignment.
“It requires a lot of patience and that is something I have acquired over a period of time. I have played alongside Sourav Ganguly and Chris Gayle. I will be able to pass on some skills and techniques with the on-field experience I have,” Akram told ESPN.
The man in the centre of it all, Sourav Ganguly spoke of his rapport with some of the men shortlisted for the job and his other roles on the sidelines.
Sourav Ganguly: “The KKR people have taken interview of lot of coaches. We have got some more to go on the next Sunday after which Shah Rukh and Joy will decide who the new coach is. There are definitely some big names and hopefully, we will get the right person.”
CNN-IBN: Wasim Akram has also joined the race apart from John Wright and Pravin Amre. Are you looking for a blend of foreign and Indian coaches?
Sourav Ganguly: “I am not too worried about the coaches. I am really worried about the team, what team we put on the park. I am spending a lot of time trying to get that right.”
CNN-IBN: John Wright and you had a very good time when he was the coach and you were the captain of the Indian team. So now, how are you looking forward to it?
Sourav Ganguly: “Well, let him get first selected. Let us not jump the gun. Obviously, I had a great relationship with John. He is a great man. He’s worked superbly with me as India’s coach.”
CNN-IBN: Did you suggest Wasim Akram’s name?
Sourav Ganguly: “I have a good relationship with Wasim and, with other people as well. Shah Rukh and Wasim had a chat. Wasim is a great bowler. I know him very well. So, he will be fine.”
CNN-IBN: You have been selected as the chairman of the Cricket Development Committee of the CAB. What sort of developments are you looking forward to?
Sourav Ganguly: “I have made a plan and hopefully, I will get them implemented. Implementation is more important. You can develop a whole lot of things but as long as you don’t implement them, it gets nothing. So once I get the official confirmation, I will try and implement them.”
CNN-IBN: How are you looking forward to IPL-III?
Sourav Ganguly: “We will just go and play. Past has got nothing to do.”
Source: cricketnext.in.com
