Former New Zealand off-spinner John Bracewell is among the candidates for the job of coach of Sri Lanka.

"We are talking to several people and that includes Bracewell," said Anura Tennakoon, chief executive of the Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka.

Cricket is Sri Lanka's top sport and the board is careful in choosing the replacement for Dav Whatmore, whose contract will not be renewed when it expires in May. The axe fell on Whatmore after Sri Lanka's semi-final exit at the World Cup last month.

Bracewell, 44, has helped English county Gloucestershire win six one-day trophies in the past four seasons, after winning just two trophies in 117 years. He has been the county's director of cricket since 1998.

The former Otago and Auckland all-rounder played 41 Tests for New Zealand from 1980 to 1990, scoring 1,001 runs and taking 102 wickets.

Other known candidates include former Australian wicketkeeper Steve Rixon.

Rixon, 49, coached the New Zealand team from 1996 to 1999, then returned to Sydney for a second stint as coach of the New South Wales team.

Tennakoon declined to give the names of other candidates.

"We are in the process of talking to all the candidates, but at this stage it will not be proper to comment or give out their names," he said.

Australia's Bennett King will continue as Australian Cricket Academy head coach and not take up an offer to coach the West Indies cricket team, the Australian Cricket Board said on Tuesday.

King was keen to continue as academy coach in Adelaide and had advised the West Indies Cricket Board (WICB) and the ACB of his decision, the ACB said in a statement.

The West Indies coaching position becomes available on July 1 and King advised the ACB that he had spoken to the WICB about the position.

King is highly regarded in Australia, having guided Queensland to three consecutive Sheffield Shield titles from the 1999-2000 season after succeeding John Buchanan when he took over the Australian team.

He discussed the job offer with his family before reaching his decision.

Security will be beefed up during the triangular one-day series involving India, South Africa and Bangladesh, starting later this week, officials said on Monday.

Bangladesh face India in the tournament's opening match on Friday.

"The authorities have accepted our appeal to deploy adequate security forces during the series," Nurul Kabir Shaheen, a Bangladesh Cricket Board official, said.

Security is a priority following protests against the U.S-led invasion of Iraq in the country over the last two weeks.

At least 500 police and other security personnel will be deployed in the Dhaka stadium match venue and players' hotels.

The India and South Africa teams are scheduled to arrive in Dhaka on Wednesday.

A total of seven one-day internationals in the tournament will be played under lights, with the top two teams meeting in the final on April 20.

The touring Australians were given a huge scare on Monday but Guyana Board XI fell 40 runs short, as the three-day match ended in a draw.

Chasing a target of 442, Guyana Board XI reached 402-6 at close of play on the final day.

Narsingh Deonarine (141 not out) and wicketkeeper Carlton Baugh (115 not out) both scored centuries for the Guyana side.

Australia's second innings was wrapped up for 196 in the first session of play.

Deonarine and Baugh, added 221 runs in just 140 minutes, after the home team was struggling at 180-6 after Australian left-arm spinner Brad Hogg had grabbed five wickets in the innings.

Deonarine's knock included 20 fours and a six, over 255 minutes, while Baugh, who is included in the West Indies squad for the first Test, struck 17 fours and three sixes.

Scores: 

Australia: 377-3 dec. (M Hayden 102, S Waugh 106) & 196 (M Love 59, A Sanford 28-3)

Guyana Board XI: 132 ( I Jan 42, B Hogg 4-23) & 420-6 (N Deonarine 141*, C Baugh 115*)

Australian leg-spinner Shane Warne is hopeful the Australian Cricket Board will allow him to play charity matches and maintain an active role during the remaining 10 months of his suspension.

The disgraced leg-spinner's recuperation from his year-long ban for taking an illegal diet tablet will be discussed at a three-day ACB meeting in Bowral beginning on Friday.

While he was suspended in February from playing in any competition that falls under the ACB umbrella, the board will discuss a paper presented by cricket operations general manager Michael Brown outlining whether he should be allowed to play in sanctioned charity matches.

These games fall outside the list of penalties imposed on Warne. But, as he still is an ACB contracted player, he needs approval from the board to play in them.

He will also seek permission to train with the Victorian Bushrangers and host junior coaching clinics.

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