Roger Harper may be West Indies coach

The former West Indies off-spinning all-rounder Roger Harper is likely to be the next coach for the Windies team, according to highly placed sources close to the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB). The three former cricketers - Gus Logie, Jeff Dujon and Roger Harper - are said to have applied for the post of coach following the expiry of the three year term in October last year of Malcom Marshall who died a few months ago.

In early November, the Board appointed Sir Vivian Richards as coach until the end of the recent tour of New Zealand. The WICB had set down strict qualifications for the post of a team coach. The qualifications and experience were outlined in advertisements several months after the Board announced its decision to advertise for the post. The WICB is looking out for a coach who holds certificates in advanced coaching and training in sports psychology.

The Board is in search of a coach having a minimum of three years practical experience in coaching at Test or first-class level. Though Richards has gained favourable feedback from team members in New Zealand, he does not carry any extensive coaching experience at Test level since his retirement from international cricket in 1991. His only previous one-month stint as coach was during last year' World Cup when Marshall was hospitalised.

The former Barbados batsman Tony King is likely to succeed Clive Lloyd whose three year term as manager also expired recently. Following the team' poor show and the friction between him and WICB members, Lloyd is not seeking to renew his contract. King has been working as a general manager in an insurance firm in Bridgetown. He represented Barbados between 1961 and 1971. He also managed the Young West Indies team (captained by current skipper Brian Lara) to the first Youth World Cup in Australia in 1988. He was an assistant manager to Lloyd on the Australian tour in 1988-89.

The WICB officials will make the announcement of their new coach and manager shortly. The WICB is likely to arrange a one-week camp for its team with the new manager, coach, physiotherapist and psychologist before first Test against Zimbabwe starting at Port-of-Spain on March 16.