New Delhi, Nov 28: The cricket board is expected to take a decision on appointing former Australian speedster Bruce Reid as the bowling coach of the Indian team for the Australian tour at its working committee meeting here on Sunday. Board sources confirmed that a request for utilising the services of Reid has been made by the team management and the matter could come up for discussion at the emergency meeting convened to take stock of the Abhijit Kale controversy.

Since appointing Reid as bowling coach means a substantial monetary involvement, the matter has been referred to the working committee, the sources said.

Concerned over the thrashing the Indian bowlers received in the opening encounter against Victoria, the Indian team management has sought the services of the left-handed, Reid, as bowling coach for the gruelling two and half month series.

The team management felt that a seasoned campaigner like Reid will do a lot of good to a relatively inexperienced Indian attack comprising Zaheer Khan, Ashish Nehra, Ajit Agarkar and rookies Lakshmipathy Balaji and Irfan Pathan. Reid had earlier coached the Zimbabwe team on their recent tour of Australia and it is believed that he is open to the Indian offer. Bureau Report