Lance Klusener is in talks with Tripura for the position of their senior men’s team head coach’s position.

It has been learnt that the former South Africa all-rounder, who was adjudged Player of the Tournament in the 1999 World Cup, has been shortlisted alongside Vineet Saxena, Dav Whatmore and Ramesh Powar by the Tripura Cricket Association (TCA).

The association has been making a conscious effort to take the state team’s performance to the next level in the Indian domestic circuit since the inclusion of Wriddhiman Saha and Sudip Chatterjee, both of whom severed ties with Bengal and joined Tripura before the start of the last season. Yet, Tripura’s performance wasn’t outstanding as they finished sixth among eight teams in elite group D of the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy.

So for a better showing this season, the association mulls including bigger names in Tripura’s coaching staff.

“The association is in talks with Klusener, whose experience in international cricket certainly counts. Fingers crossed though,” a TCA insider said on Tuesday.

It also remains to be seen if Tripura can afford Klusener as he has apparently asked for a hefty fee.