Security beefed up for Buchanan

Kolkata:

Police on Wednesday beefed up security cover for Kolkata Knight Riders Cricket Manager John Buchanan following protests by some youngsters after the Australian stripped Sourav Ganguly of his sole captaincy role in the IPL team.

Commissioner of city police Gautam Mohan Chakraborty said they have beefed up Buchanan's security, but refused to elaborate on the security measures of the two-time World Cup winning Australian coach.

"The security has been tightened," Chakraborty said.

Earlier a group of Ganguly supporters staged a protest march outside the Eden Gardens when the Knight Riders practice was on and went on to burn the Australian's effigy and shouted slogans of "Go back Buchanan".

The Australian, perhaps aware of the protest, delayed his Eden visit and joined the camp around two hours after it began.

Buchanan and his support staff are in the city for the Knight Riders' final camp before they set off to South Africa for the Indian Premier League season two.

The city police obviously do not want to take a chance having witnessed the widespread protest against then India coach Greg Chappell after Ganguly was removed from Team India captaincy.

In an incident in November 2005, following protests against him Chappell was alleged to have made a finger gesture at the die-hard Ganguly fans.

The Australian, in another incident in Bhubaneswar in January 2007, was attacked by a fan after arriving at the city airport.