COLOMBO, May 20: Sri Lanka are expected to name Australian Tom Moody as their national coach next week following India’s appointment of Greg Chappell. Sri Lanka were forced to delay their recruitment process until after India had finalised interviews with Moody and Chappell.

Moody, director of cricket at English county Worcestershire, is due to travel to Colombo over the weekend for an interview on Monday or Tuesday with the Sri Lankan cricket board.

“Tom (Moody) is going to confirm shortly when he can come and we hope to have everything finalised early next week,” Sri Lanka Cricket chairman Jayantha Dharmadasa said.

Moody is expected to agree a two-year contract to lead the team to the 2007 World Cup.

Moody, a seam-bowling all rounder, played eight Tests and 76 One-day internationals, twice helping Australia win the World Cup in 1987 and 1999.

He has been linked with several coaching jobs, including the England post after speculation that Duncan Fletcher may not renew his contract after this year’s Ashes.

Sri Lanka approached a number of coaches including Dav Whatmore of Bangladesh, and Australians Dean Jones and Steve Waugh.

Former coach John Dyson, whose contract expired in April after 20 months in charge during which Sri Lanka rose up the Test and ODI rankings, was also in the running.—Reuters