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India head coach interviews: Phil Simmons backs out; announcement likely at 6 pm

Abha Gupta. Dated: 8/16/2019 4:22:37 PM

Former Afghanistan coach Phil Simmons backed out ahead of his interview for the role of India head coach on Friday, citing personal reasons. Simmons was among the 6 candidates shortlisted by the Board of Control for Cricket in India for the high-profile role.

Phil Simmons was scheduled to attend the interview conducted by Kapil Dev-led Cricket Advisory Committee at the BCCI headquarters on Friday. He was among the 3 candidates, including incumbent Ravi Shastri and former Australia cricketer Tom Moody, to take the interview via Skype.

Phil Simmons, who won the T20 World Cup in 2016 with West Indies, was appointed as the head coach of Afghanistan in 2017. The West Indies tactician took Afghanistan to the 10-team World Cup and stepped down from the role after the end of quadrennial tournament earlier this year.

Kapil Dev-led CAC, which also has Anshuman Gaekwad and Shantha Rangaswamy, conducted the interviews for the shortlisted candidates. Robin Singh, who had earlier worked with the Indian team as its support staff, was the first to attend the interview and was followed by Lalchand Rajput and former New Zealand coach Mike Hesson.

Ravi Shastri, who is currently in the West Indies, is all set to give his interview around 5 PM IST.

Kapil Dev and the other 2 members of the CAC are expected to make the announcement about the new India head coach in a press conference at 6 PM IST. It was earlier reported that the press conference would be conducted at 7 PM but it has been moved after Phil Simmon's exit.

The newly-appointed head coach on Friday will reportedly be handed 2-year contracts until the T20 World Cup in 2021. The batting, bowling and the fielding coaches who are set to be selected by MSK Prasad-led senior selection committee will also be given 2-year contracts.

Ravi Shastri is the overwhelming favourite to retain his job, considering the amount of success Team India have had in the last 2 years. Apart from winning historic series in South Africa (ODIs) and Australia (ODIs and Tests), India's World Cup 2019 performance was impressive until the semi-final wherein they were knocked out by New Zealand.