Pune Warriors get ready for battle
Rope in Marsh and Reeve as coaches
Dubai: Even though the fourth edition of the Indian Premier League is more than nine months away, the Sahara Pune Warriors have got down to business to pose a strong challenge to the existing teams. They have named the coaching staff a few days back and are now pressing for an ‘open auction' so that all the top international players can be up for grabs in the next auction in September.
The Sahara Group, one of the two new franchises, have named Geoff Marsh, Australia's former batsman and coach to work with the Pune team while former England allrounder Dermot Reeve will be his assistant.
Marsh has a formidable resume which includes two World Cups, one as a player and the other as the coach. While he formed the awesome opening pair with David Boon in Allan Border's all-conquering team in 1987, he was the coach of the side in 1999. He was also the coach of the Zimbabwean side for a period of almost four years from 2001.
Reeve, who had a successful stint in County cricket before turning into a commentator, had also recently coached the New Zealand first class side of Central Districts to a win in their domestic T20 competition.
Work ethic
Confirming the two appointments, Abhijit Sarkar, Head of Corporate Communications of Sahara Group, told Gulf News: "More Indian coaching and support staff will be taken on board. We have one work ethic which we have in common with the coaches — ie hard work.
"There is no substitute for it and the coaches who have become associated with us are there because we have these concepts and ethics in common." Commenting on their demand for an open auction, Sarkar said: "We feel that the two new teams should get a [level] playing field. The BCCI rules say that each team can retain a maximum of four players, but we want that there should be an open auction so teams are balanced."
Positive direction
Their demand is based on the grounds that the initial agreement with the players before the inaugural edition of the IPL was for three years, following which the cricketers should be treated as free agents.
"We have placed our thoughts before the Board. There have been further discussions which are moving in a positive direction and we are very hopeful." he said. Meanwhile, work on the new cricket stadium in Pune, which is going to be the home for Pune Warriors, is also progressing as per deadline.
"It's moving at a very good pace. The Maharashtra Cricket Association (MCA) is putting in its best effort and we are hopeful of having our home matches in the new stadium in 2011," Sarkar added.
