Lawson is Kochi franchise's coach, says source

Contrary to news reports, former Australian fast bowler and ex-Pakistan team coach Geoff Lawson has already been named as the coach the new Kochi IPL franchise in the T20 League's 2011 edition.

"We have already informed the Cricket Board (which owns IPL) that Lawson will be the coach. The details of his contract are being worked out," a Kochi franchise source said.

The source was not willing to discuss anything further on franchise Kochi Cricket Pvt. Ltd or the upcoming IPL players' auction at Bangalore on January 8 and 9.

"We do not wish to talk to the media on these matters. Kindly leave it," the source said.

IPL Governing Council has decided that Kochi and the other new IPL franchise Sahara Pune Warriors, who did not take part in the 2010 season, can sign up to four players from the list of players who were not a part of the squad of any of the teams in the past three IPL editions.

The franchise and players must mutually agree to the fees to be paid by the franchise to the player for the 2011 and 2012 seasons.

Irrespective of the actual fee to be paid to the players, the salary cap of USD 9 million for the franchises would get reduced by USD 1.8m per annum for the first player, a further $1.3m for the second, $0.9m for the third and $0.5m for the fourth.

If the franchise signs four players, its salary cap will be halved in each of 2011 and 2012 and it will have only $4.5m remaining to pay as player fees for the remainder of its registered squad.