Job to be helpful for KKR in long run : Whatmore

Kolkata:

Former Sri Lankan coach Dav Whatmore on Thursday said his new job to groom Bengal's junior cricket would be helpful for Indian Premier League team Kolkata Knight Riders in the long run.

The 1996 World Cup winning Sri Lankan coach, who is also has the same role in the Shah Rukh Khan-owned side in IPL, said his presence would lead to a union of the Cricket Association of Bengal (CAB) and KKR.

"For an IPL team to be good, a state's Ranji side too has to excel with quality players. My presence here may lead to a union of CAB and KKR. The union will certainly produce excellent results," Whatmore said.

The Aussie, however, said that his job would not be to groom young talents for KKR.

"My job is to to ensure that CAB has more players that can strengthen the reserve bench. Whether these young players turn out for KKR or not is not the point.

"The reason for me being here is to share my knowledge in an effort to make youth cricket stronger and ready to take on uncertainties in future."

His priority would be to spend maximum time here, he said.

"Proper youth development requires training youngsters about maintaining their focus, making them understand that its they who should take responsibility themselves. We also have to educate them on anti-doping and anti-corruption."