Indian Premier League (IPL) side Kolkata Knight Riders have got New Zealand cricket selector John Wright in their sights as coach.
Indian media reported today that the former India coach and New Zealand skipper was being targeted as Australian John Buchanan's replacement.
With Brendon McCullum unavailable for at least threeweeks next season due to Black Caps commitments, former India skipper Sourav Ganguly was slated to lead the Knight Riders, the reports said.
The team finished last in the second edition of the Twenty20 event, held in South Africa.
The reports said although Wright was a frontrunner, there were other candidates.
The Knight Riders sacked Buchanan last month after poor showings in the last two IPL seasons and the team is desperate for a turnaround in performance in 2010.
Others tipped as a possible replacement included National Cricket Academy director Dav Whatmore, former India opener WV Raman, former wicketkeeper Chandrakant Pandit, manager of the 2007 World Twenty20-winning Indian team Lalchand Rajput, former Pakistan coach Richard Pybus and former India pacer Paras Mhambrey.
As with McCullum, Wright would be needed in New Zealand for the Australian tour next year, part of which, clashes with the proposed dates for the third edition of the IPL.
New Zealand Cricket chief executive Justin Vaughan told The Dominion Post today he had not spoken to Wright but he doubted the accuracy of the Indian media reports.
