Allan Donald joins Pune as bowling coach

Allan Donald aspired to coach Indian bowlers. He has his wish fulfilled, partially albeit. The former South Africa pacer has joined Sahara Pune Warriors as a bowling. The deal, it was reliably learnt, was completed a few days back.

Donald, currently the bowling coach of South African team, will have to balance his international and IPL commitments but sources close to him have said it should not be a problem. Donald himself was not willing to speak because of contractual obligations.

Donald will be the second South African in the Pune team’s support staff. He joins compatriot Paddy Upton, who was recently recruited as the team’s mental trainer. Upton, it may be recalled, was Team India’s mental trainer under Gary Kirsten.

Pune, having disassociated with Geoff Marsh, do not have a chief coach. That job is likely to be handled by Sourav Ganguly, who is expected to triple up as a coach, mentor and player. Ganguly, as reported in these columns, has been signed by the team.

Having signed Ganguly for his last year’s base price of $400,000, Pune will have $1.6 million at the auction. They are likely buy out the contract of Jerome Taylor. It would help them create a vacancy to buy another foreign player at the auction. The West Indian was bought for $100,000. They currently have 10 foreign players. With IPL allowing the teams a maximum of 11 foreigners, Pune can hope to buy two foreign players.