Fleming out of New Zealand coaching race

Wellington:

Former captain Stephen Fleming says he is not interested in taking over from Andy Moles as New Zealand cricket coach.

Fleming, who retired from international cricket last season, was seen as one of a number of potential replacements for Moles, who resigned on Saturday after reports of player dissatisfaction with his performance.

The New Zealand team was without a coach when it left on Tuesday for the United Arab Emirates where it will play Pakistan in three 50-over and two Twenty20 internationals.

Captain Daniel Vettori will assume a player-coach role until a new national coach is appointed, possibly after December's home test series against Pakistan.

Fleming recently rejected overseas coaching offers and said Wednesday he was not a candidate for the New Zealand role.

"I do not have the time (for coaching) and I do not have the desire," he said. "The group of players there now are too close to my (playing) era, and also my coaching ability is unproven."

Fleming, who played 111 tests and 280 limited-overs matches for New Zealand, said he was concentrating on developing business opportunities.