Kepler Wessels keen on coaching India

Kepler Wessels, the former South Africa captain, is believed to have expressed his interest in the job of India coach. A report in The Times of India said Wessels contacted the board indirectly, his agent speaking to the BCCI through a senior member of the Indian team.

This would take to four the number of people - the others being Australian John Dyson, Terry Oliver, the current Queensland coach, and New Zealand A coach Dave Nosworthy -associated with the job since Graham Ford turned it down. The position has been vacant since Greg Chappell's exit after this year's World Cup.

Wessels, who is currently coach of the South Africa team for the Emerging Players Tournament to take place in Australia, said: "I am interested in the job and my agent in London is handling the issue on my behalf. He was supposed to contact the Indian board. I have left everything to him."

Wessels's agent, David Ligertwood, informed The Times of India, "We manage a few Indian cricketers and one of them spoke to the board about Kepler. The answer was that the board would be interested in speaking to him. I have not heard anything after that, but will follow up shortly."

Ligertwood works for Athletes 1, the same agency that manages a few Indian players and has even secured county contracts for the likes of Sourav Ganguly and Harbhajan Singh.

Wessels has been the coach for Northamptonshire, while Dyson has earlier been in-charge of the Sri Lankan team.

The BCCI has so far not issued any statement.