The Kolkata Knight Riders on Tuesday declined to comment on the sensational revelation by former Test cricketer Ajay Jadeja that racial discrimination is prevalent in the Shah Rukh Khan-owned side in the Indian Premier League.
Jadeja said on Monday that an Indian player was asked to come off while fielding and when asked why he was called back, one of the assistant coaches said, "You bloody Indian, you do as you're told."
According to NDTV news channel, the player and coach involved are Test discard Ajit Agarkar and bowling coach Andy Bichel.
Asked for a reaction to Jadeja's comments, KKR director Joy Bhattacharya, who is in South Africa, declined to comment.
But a team insider claimed that racial bias existed in the team which is languishing at the bottom of the table in the ongoing IPL.
The insider cited examples of Sourav Ganguly and Aakash Chopra, Sanjay Bangar among others and said: "Racial discrimination is clearly prevalent in the side. Ganguly was sacked as captain two days before Knight Riders first match... Chopra and Bangar were sent home by the Kolkata Knight Riders' management, after the fourth match."
When contacted, former India opener Chopra said: "I don't want to comment on this or on any other incident. Let the team management speak on this issue."
John Buchanan, who heads the franchise's cricket operations, boasts of a long coaching staff that includes chief coach Matthew Mott, trainer Adrian Le Roux, physio Andrew Leipus, assistant coach Michael Buchanan, assistant coach Brad Murphy, wicketkeeping coach Wade Seccombe, fielding coach John Deeble, bowling coach Andy Bichel and cricket manager Joydeep Mukherjee.
World Cup winning Australian coach Buchanan also has his son Michael for a post which is termed as 'strength trainer'.
