The former South African bowler is preparing to coach IPL problem side Pune Warriors.
Since their first IPL season in 2011 Pune Warriors have struggled to compete in the tournament and have been shrouded in controversy.
However, South African bowling coach Allan Donald is taking time out from the national side to head to India in a bid to improve Pune’s fortunes.
It is Donald’s second year with the side and he thinks things can be turned around in 2013, after Warriors finished bottom of the IPL table last season.
“We’ve had two tired years so this year is about finding some confidence,” the South African told ESPNcricinfo.
“Last year, we started well and then things backfired massively. It was quite a nightmare.”
Pune’s problems started from the beginning in 2011, when they almost didn’t play at all because of sponsorship disputes.
When they did get going they appointed former Indian skipper Sourav Ganguly as captain, but he was involved with in-house disputes at the franchise and is no longer part of the setup.
As well as the Warriors had controversial New Zealander Jesse Ryder in the side – who is currently in a critical condition in Christchurch hospital after being attacked outside a bar – who traveled with a personal psychologist because of issues he had at the time.
Fellow Pune players Wayne Parnell and Rahul Sharma also made the headlines when they were involved in a drug raid whilst at a party.
This season though Donald has brought in South Africa’s conditioning coach Rob Palmer, who was formerly with the Delhi Daredevils, to try and bring a touch of the Proteas winning culture to the team.
It is a tough ask considering their past problems but Donald will have a chance to start a new era for the Warriors when they take on Sunrisers Hyderabad on 5 April in their first IPL match of 2013.
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