Dual role for Warne

Legend Warne to coach and captain Jaipur Indian Premier League.

Last updated: 27th February 2008

Shane Warne Australia v England Jan 07

Warne: Duel role

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Retired Australian legend Shane Warne has been named as the captain and coach of the Jaipur team for the Twenty20 Indian Premier League.

The franchise announced on Wednesday that the leg-spinning great would take up the dual role for Jaipur for the tournament which begins on April 18.

Fraser Castellino, chief executive of Emerging Media, which paid $67 million for the Jaipur team, said that Warne was the legendary figure they were looking for to lead the team.

"We were looking for a legendary cricketer whom all players will look up to," said Castellino.

"Shane's commitment and astute cricketing brain makes him one of the most respected cricketers in the history of the game."

Jaipur side

Warne is one of the four foreign cricketers in the Jaipur side, with South African skipper Graeme Smith and Pakistan duo Younis Khan and Kamran Akmal.

Smith emerged the team's highest-paid overseas player after last week's auction in Mumbai with $475,000, followed by Warne ($450,000), Khan ($225,000) and Akmal ($150,000).

Each player will receive his auction price as an annual wage over the initial three-year contract.

"Our main goal is to build a winning Twenty20 team," said Warne.

"Reputation and track record in Tests and one-day internationals are not necessarily relevant when it comes to Twenty20.

"I am very happy with the list of players chosen at the auction. They are all part of the strategy to building a winning team.

"I am looking forward to leading the side, to playing with the boys and to a successful season."

38-year-old Warne retired from international cricket last year with a record of 708 wickets in 145 Tests and 293 in 194 one-day internationals.

Elsewhere in the IPL, former South African captain Kepler Wessels was appointed coach of Chennai, one of the eight teams in the fray for the 44-day tournament.

The IPL, brainchild of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, is backed by the International Cricket Council and supported by cricket boards around the world.