ICL players are on Knight Riders' radar: Ganguly

Former captain Sourav Ganguly, who is tipped to return as Kolkata Knight Riders' skipper, says rebel Indian Cricket League (ICL) players are on the radar of the Shah Rukh Khan-owned outfit for the third season of Indian Premier League next year.

Talking to reporters on Friday, after the conclusion of Knight Riders' five-day camp at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, Ganguly said, "We will try and get ICL players but there are other teams that will also be pitching for them."

Asked about the chances of ICL players from Bengal, including former captain Deep Dasgupta, Ganguly said, "Yes, we have the Bengal ICL players in mind as well. We are looking for them, as I said we are trying to make a better team and everybody will be seen."

The third edition of the IPL will be held from March 12 to April 25 2010.

Even after his ouster from Knight Riders' think-tank, former coach John Buchanan continued with his verbal attack against Ganguly, but the left-hander refused to pay any importance to the remarks.

"It's his opinion. For us at KKR Buchanan is a story of the past. We have not played well last year and we need to get everything right. We need to play good cricket and that's important, rest does not matter. It's a thing of the past," he said.

Ganguly donned the mentor's role during the camp and gave away ball-by-ball tips to all the players, but the left-hander refused to take any additional mileage from it, saying, "I just helped them out."

"Obviously, Knight Riders will have a coach; I don't know who it is, but I am sure we will get to know shortly. We had a camp; as physio Andrew Leipus was here, we needed to assess the players fitness and being one of the senior players, I was just helping them out," he said.

"It is just a beginning. These sort of camps will keep on happening whenever players are free. So far, it has been a good camp," Ganguly added.

Asked about the possible date for the next camp, Ganguly replied, "Let's see when these guys are free from Ranji Trophy. Whenever they have seven days off, we will try and bring them for three-four days."

During the camp, the Knight Riders apparently 'tested' players from other IPL teams -- like Manoj Tiwary (Delhi Daredevils) and Ranadeb Bose (Kings XI Punjab) -- and the move had raised a few eyebrows but Ganguly said there is no contorversy at all.

"They had come to show their injury. We are aware that they are with other franchises and we cannot have them with us. It happens everywhere, when we go outside also we are treated by other physios," he said.

Ganguly also called in few inexperienced players, including little known Pawan Sharma from Agra but the former India captain said it was a routine exercise.

"We are just trying and seeing everyone who can get into the team's scheme of things. It's too early to comment on anybody," he said.

Ganguly, however, declined to comment on the contentious 'whereabout' clause of WADA that had raised a storm in the sporting fraternity with 11 Indian cricketers refusing to sign it, terming it is an infringement to their privacy.

"I have not seen the WADA laws and regulations. I just have been reading it in the newspapers and I don't want to make a comment. I am sure the BCCI and the ICC along with the cricketers will sort this out," he added.

Earlier in the day, Leipus personally sat with the players and handed them a fitness chart that was to be followed till the third edition of the IPL begins.

Knight Riders had a disastrous IPL II in South Africa, finishing last with the franchise mired in controversy especially after Buchanan floated his multiple captaincy theory.

The World Cup-winning Australian was sacked immediately after the season with the post lying vacant till date.

The names of former India coach John Wright and Pakistan ex-coach Richard Pybus along with few Indians are doing the rounds as his replacement.