India's new coach could be named Friday following the conclusion of interviews of the four candidates by a special selection panel of the Indian cricket board here Thursday.

Former Australia captain Greg Chappell and compatriot Tom Moody, former West Indies opener Desmond Haynes and ex-India batsman Mohinder Amarnath were interviewed by a six-member panel headed by Ranbir Singh Mahendra, president of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI).

All four candidates were either "happy" or "satisfied" with their presentations, while Mahendra said he would address a press conference at 12.30 Friday.

"I will speak to the press," Mahendra told reporters before heading back into the interview room to meet Haynes, the third person to be interviewed.

Although Mahendra did not say whether the name of the new coach would be announced Friday, there were strong indications that John Wright's replacement would be known by mid-day.

The members of the selection panel, which included BCCI secretary S.K. Nair, former board president Jagmohan Dalmiya and former India captains Sunil Gavaskar, Srinivas Venkataraghavan and Ravi Shastri, besides Mahendra, will now meet among themselves Friday morning, probably to pick the winner.

By all accounts, the race seems to have narrowed down to Chappell and Moody.

Most members of the Indian team are said to be in favour of Moody, who has a Level IV coaching certificate and is a cricket director with English county Worcestershire.

Even former Australia captain Steve Waugh has backed Moody, who has appeared in three World Cups, though he only played eight Tests and 76 one-day internationals (ODIs). He is the youngest of the four candidates at 39.

Chappell, 56, who played 87 Tests and 74 ODIs, is considered very highly in terms of coaching. But some experts feel he would not be able to gel with the Indian cricketers because of exalted stature, and the resulting gap between him and the players could be detrimental to the team.

"Chappell is a czar of cricket, while Moody is somewhat like Wright who can merge with the players," commented a BCCI official.

It is, however, believed that Sourav Ganguly is the only member of the team who has backed Chappell.

Chappell's fee is also likely to be very high, though it is learnt that he has scaled down the amount from what he quoted in 2000 when he was also interviewed along with compatriot Rodney Marsh and Wright.

Chappell, who never played a Test or ODI in India, was happy with his presentation.

"I am very pleased about being given the opportunity," he said, adding that he enjoyed the session with the committee.

The interviews began with Amarnath, who was also pleased with his presentation, though he was assisted by his brother-in-law in giving the power-point presentation. Amarnath admitted he did not know how to handle a laptop, but said it would not be a handicap in coaching.

"I believe only an Indian can understand Indians better," he said.

Haynes, widely considered an outsider, said that he was surprised by the invitation from the BCCI.

Looking natty in jacket, tie and spectacles, Haynes said he did not use a laptop for his presentation - the only one not to do so.

Moody, the last man to be interviewed, was professional-like after his interview as he asked the media to stick to just a couple of questions.

He looked satisfied with his presentation, and his answers were to the point.

The interviews were delayed midway through the day when Mahendra and Dalmiya received a call from Prime Minister Manmohan Singh's office and the two immediately left to meet him.

Mahendra and Dalmiya had taken the appointment to discuss the tax exemption issue for the 2006 Champions Trophy, allotted to India.

The International Cricket Council (ICC), which organises the Champions Trophy, wants 100 percent tax holiday for the biennial tournament.

If the BCCI cannot assure ICC of that, the most important tournament after the World Cup would be shifted to Pakistan, the ICC has announced.

--Indo-Asian News Service