Optimistic Sri Lanka promise new coach in a week

Sri Lanka will have a new national coach by the end of the week, according to Jayantha Dharmadasa, the new chairman of Sri Lanka Cricket. Tom Moody remains the frontrunner for the post and Sri Lanka are anxious to complete a deal as soon as possible with India also in the hunt for him.

"We will have a new man before the week ends," Dharmadasa told AFP. "We want our coach to take over as soon as possible to prepare for the Test series at home against the West Indies in mid-July."

Sri Lanka have sent out feelers to a wide range of candidates and during the past few weeks Moody, Greg Chappell, Steve Waugh, Allan Border, Dean Jones, Dav Whatmore and the former coach John Dyson have been seriously discussed. But Moody and Chappell, the two foreign candidates also short-listed by India, are the favourites.

"Both Chappell and Moody come highly qualified, but we have to see the economics also," said Dharmadasa, hinting that Chappell, who allegedly lost out to John Wright for the India job last time because of his high price tag, might break their budget.

Dharmadasa's one-week prediction for a sign-up appears optimistic. Both Moody and Chappell have been offered interviews with the Indian board for a job that offers a higher profile, better job security and almost certainly more money. They are unlikely to be rushed into any commitment with Sri Lanka.

Moody has also previously claimed that he will not leave Worcestershire, where he is the director of cricket, until the summer is over. "The bottom line for me is that I am committed to Worcestershire and currently contracted until the end of this season," he was quoted as saying last month.