Lara eyes T&T coaching role in Champions League

Brian Lara, the former West Indies captain, has confirmed he is in talks with the Trinidad & Tobago board about a role for him in T&T's Champions League campaign. His role is likely to be a coaching one since he cannot join the side as a player - under the rules, the squad must be the same as the one that participated in the domestic competition.

"I haven't been approached but we have had discussions on it," Lara was quoted as saying in the Trinidad & Tobago Express. "I think we really want to come to a mutual understanding of exactly what Trinidad and Tobago cricket wants to get out of Brian Lara. I think you are going to play in an international tournament for the first time, we're accustomed to playing regional tournaments but we have to know exactly what the pitches are going to be like."

T&T are the only West Indies team to compete in the tournament, which includes three sides from India, two each from Australia, England and South Africa and one each from Sri Lanka and New Zealand. They will be up against international stars like Brendon McCullum, Andrew Symonds, Adam Gilchrist, Dale Steyn, Virender Sehwag and Daniel Vettori.

"The opposition is on an international stage … so I see some merit in it but to know exactly what role I'll be playing, I'm not so sure. If they see I can be an asset, it is something I'll definitely look at."

Lara had signed up with the ICL for their first season but that is unlikely to affect his role with the T&T since players who have ended their association with the unofficial league are being rehabilitated by their country's boards.