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Greg Chappell seems a frontrunner for the job of India coach, but cricket officials' shilly-shallying over the selection could prove costly as Sri Lanka too is eyeing the Australian great.
Several names, including those of Chappell, Tom Moody and Mohinder Amarnath are being discussed, but already the cricket board's lackadaisical attitude has ensured that it didn't get the man it wanted.
While the Board of Control for Cricket in India took its time to discuss coach John Wright's replacement, Dav Whatmore, who was then nearing the end of his contract with Bangladesh, seemed a good choice.
But Bangladesh took advantage of India's dillydallying and offered Whatmore an extension, which he accepted.
Looks like there's going to be a repeat of this mistake as an embattled Sri Lankan board too is gunning for the coaching services of Chappell.
According to sources, while the BCCI takes its time to decide, Chappell is set to travel to Colombo next month for talks with Sri Lankan cricket officials.
The BCCI appears more inclined towards hiring a foreign coach after Wright's successful tenure with the team.
Chappell's name was discussed when India was looking for a cricket coach five years ago, but, eventually, Wright was given the job.
Regular India captain Sourav Ganguly is known to be favourably disposed towards Chappell, whose cricketing advice the left-hand batsman has sought in the past.