June 05, 2007	Tuesday	Jamadi-ul-Awwal 19, 1428

BANGALORE, June 4: The Indian cricket board short-listed South Africa's Graham Ford on Monday for the job of national coach and eliminated Australian Dav Whatmore from contention.

A board official told reporters the former South Africa coach and another unidentified candidate would be called to meet its coaching committee on Saturday before a final decision was made.

Ford, 46, had a highly successful two-year tenure with South Africa and is now the cricket director of English county Kent.

He applied at the last minute and media reports said he was backed by the senior players.

Indian media speculated the second candidate could be Sri Lanka's World Cup winning captain Arjuna Ranatunga.

“It has been decided that we will invite for discussion Graham Ford,” senior board official N. Srinivasan told reporters.

“We're also going to invite one more person,” he said. “I'm unable to disclose the name because we have not yet ascertained his availability.”

The job became vacant when former Australia skipper Greg Chappell quit following the team's shock first round elimination at this year's World Cup.

Senior board members met Whatmore, the outgoing Bangladesh coach, last month and secretary Niranjan Shah said on Sunday he was the favourite.

However, panel member Sunil Gavaskar had expressed reservations over Whatmore and wanted an Indian to be considered for the job.—Reuters