By IANS,
Johannesburg : Outspoken and sometimes controversial South African coach Ray Jennings may be tasked with turning around the fortunes of the Bangalore Royal Challengers after the side finished bottom two in the Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 Series.
Jennings told the Afrikaans weekly Rapport here that he would know by next week if he would be part of the next IPL season.
“I was coincidentally in India, watching one of the games of the Royal Challengers, when I spoke to some of the guys, and they showed interest,” Jennings said.
“At this stage, I’m still waiting to hear how serious they are about my involvement and I should have a better idea of their plans by next week.”
Jennings, who is currently coaching the South African under-19 squad, said it was too early to tell whether this could be affected by the IPL, but that the chief executive of Cricket South Africa, Gerald Majola was fully aware of his interest.
Jennings is undaunted by the fact that the Royal Challengers failed so badly, despite the presence of heavyweights like South Africans Mark Boucher, Dale Steyn and all-rounder Jacques Kallis. Rahul Dravid led the team. The Challengers’ chief executive Charu Sharma was fired halfway through the series, with the team only winning four of their 14 matches.
Former South African captain Kepler Wessels is also being chased by another IPL team, Chennai Super Kings, after he impressed with his performance which saw the side losing out to the Rajasthan Royals in the final in a nail-biting last-ball finish.
But Wessels has asked for time to consider his further involvement in the IPL series: “They were satisfied with what we achieved in the tournament, but I have asked for a month or so before I make a decision on the next one.”
“The IPL was so demanding that I want to wait for the dust to settle as it were before I commit myself (to the next series),” Wessels told Rapport.