Rixon signs up for ICL

Steve Rixon, the former New Zealand coach, has joined the Indian Cricket League (ICL). Rixon will take over the coaching duties for the Hyderabad Heroes from Moin Khan, the former Pakistan wicketkeeper.

"I see my appointment as a nice little challenge," Rixon told the Australian. "I've agreed to sign on for as long as they want me and I'm comfortable with the financial arrangement."

Rixon will work alongside New Zealander Chris Harris, who has been named captain of the team, replacing Inzamam-ul-Haq. The ICL recently signed more Pakistan players, and they are expected to represent Lahore, a new team, in the upcoming competitions. Inzamam and Moin are likely to join that team.

Rixon becomes the second Australian to coach in the ICL, with Michael Bevan serving the Chennai Superstars, the winners of the first two tournaments. Rixon's signing with the ICL comes on the heels of fellow Australians Tom Moody, Greg Shipperd and John Buchanan joining the Indian Premier League (IPL), the officially sanctioned tournament.

The IPL is currently the hot topic in world cricket, with the players' auction realising millions of dollars for top stars on Wednesday, but Dean Jones, the ICL operations manager, wasn't perturbed. He said the ICL's next tournament would be "bigger and better" than the IPL.

"The television coverage for our next tournament starting on March 10 will be seen across the Americas, West Indies, as well as being beamed back into Pakistan, Sri Lanka and right across Asia," Jones said. "Because the tournament will be played in three centres, Hyderabad, Delhi and Chandigarh, we've had to find more commentators. We have recruited Tony Greig, Michael Whitney, Jeff Thomson and Pat Symcox from South Africa to boost our coverage.

"We've already staged a 50-over tournament, we are now stepping up to phase two which is a series of three Twenty20 matches starting in March, then September and in November-December."