Board of Control for Cricket India secretary Niranjan Shah feigned ignorance about a reported indirect approach made by the Indian Board to Australia's World Cup-winning coach John Buchanan to take over the reins of the team.

"I don't know anything about any such approach having been made. This is the first time I am hearing about it," Shah said.

He was reacting to a report in an Australian newspaper, which quoted Buchanan as saying that he was "indirectly" approached by Indian officials before leaving the West Indies, where the World Cup was held.

The BCCI secretary was in the West Indies along with BCCI's Chief Administrative Officer Ratnakar Shetty to witness the closing stages of cricket's quadrennial showpiece event.

"There was some indirect contact from India," Buchanan was quoted as saying by The Age on Friday.

"But at the moment I am looking for new challenges as a mentor coach, and speaking to Cricket Australia and the Australian Sports Commission about that, as well as a move into corporate coaching.

"Yes, there is still some interest (in international coaching). But, and it's a big but, it would be very much dependent upon my family," Buchanan added.