Kochi got IPL but what about players. This commercial capital of Kerala which spent 333 crore in winning franchisee bid is expected to spend huge amounts on players also. Even though no names are being brandished about openly at present and Rendezvous Sports World Private Limited (RSWPL), owners of the Kochi franchise, has yet to announce their plans, there are already enough names doing the rounds for IPL IV. Rendezvous Sports World Private Limited-led consortium putting off important decisions regarding the players, support cast and the name of the Kochi IPL franchise till the end of the current edition, speculations are flying thick and fast. Former West Indian batting great Brian Lara is being proclaimed as the number one target for the new entrant while former South African all-rounder Lance Klusener and Aussie star Michael Clarke, named skipper for next month’s T20 world championship in the West Indies, are among those floating around even as the owners continue their in-house deliberations on the future course of action. Also in the frame, supposedly, is Australian legend Steve Waugh as coach. With the original eight franchises set to benefit from getting to retain four Indian and three foreign members of their squad next season, the two new franchises are looking beyond the field. RSWPL CEO Shailendra Gaikwad insisted serious contemplation on likely players was yet to begin yet; he hesitated when TNIE confronted him with the Waugh question. "We will decide on player composition later. There are certain names in our mind, but I just want to say that we are still unsure. We will start the process in the coming 15 days," he said on Sunday. Keshav Patel from the Rosy Blue Group - co-owners of RSWPL - said that while the absence of a number of stars in next year's auction could affect his team's composition, they would still have plenty to choose from. Without either confirming or denying it, Gaekwad said over phone from New Delhi, “I can speak of all those things only at the end of IPL III.” Adding to the intrigue, another unconfirmed report talked about Lara being in contention for a job with … [Read more...]