Ranbir Singh Mahendra, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) is likely to announce the new coach for the Indian cricket team this afternoon.

The six member committee comprising of Sunil Gavaskar [Images], Ravi Shastri, Srinivas Venkatraghvan, Mahendra, former BCCI president Jagmohan Dalmiya and Board secretary S K Nair, completed the screening of the four aspirants-- Tom Moody, Greg Chappell [Images], Mohinder Amarnath and Desmond Haynes on Thursday.

"We are meeting again on Friday morning and hopefully you would have the name of the new coach," S K Nair told rediff.com.

The committee's choice, however, will have to be ratified by the Board's Working Committee. The Board had set itself a deadline of June 15 to appoint the new coach.

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Venkataraghvan, who was also in the committee that selected John wright [Images], refused to comment. "My lips are sealed and whatever has to be said would be said by Mahendra," the former ace spinner said.

Former BCCI president Rajsingh Dungarpur, who was also in Delhi, said that Chappell is the likely choice.

"I heard Sunil Gavaskar saying that coach should be someone who can earn the respect of players like Sachin Tendulkar [Images], Rahul Dravid [Images] and Anil Kumble [Images], the giants in the Indian team.

And only Greg Chappell fits into this description. If you ask for my personal choice then I would prefer Tom Moody because he has the necessary experience and right now he is the director of coaching of one of the leading English counties," Dungarpur said.

When asked if he is the front runner, Chappell said that he too has heard about it but refused to say more.

"I would not like to add a word to what I said last night. Let the board announce the name first then I would be able to answer your questions," he said.

Amarnath believed an Indian was the most suited while Haynes highlighted his Caribbean background to help the team guide in the 2007 World Cup.

Moody, member of Australia's World Cup winning squad in 1987 and 1999, thought he had the age as well as the modern coaching knowledge as strong points in his resume.