Tom Moody in line to coach one of the IPL teams

Western Australia coach Tom Moody is in line to coach one of the eight Indian Premier League Twenty20 franchises.

Melbourne, Feb.16 : Western Australia coach Tom Moody is in line to coach one of the eight Indian Premier League Twenty20 franchises.

According to The Australian, Moody is among four Australians short-listed for the assignment. The others are Victorian coach Greg Shipperd, former Australia coach John Buchanan and former India coach Greg Chappell.

Moody confirmed yesterday that he had been approached by the IPL and was interested.

"Obviously the timing of it is pretty perfect in regard to my responsibilities with Western Australia," Moody said.

Moody expects that he would be required in India for two months from the beginning of April, with the competition scheduled to start on April 18, but claimed he had been provided with few details.

"It's all a bit loose at the moment whether it's in regard to management or players," he said

Chappell, who heads a private academy in Rajasthan, run by Lalit Modi, the IPL commissioner, has been sounded out by the Jaipur franchise.

Moody is understood to be dealing with the Mohali franchise, owned by an Indian business consortium including Bollywood actor Preity Zinta.

Shipperd, who steered Victoria to victory in the Pura Cup in 2003-04 and to the final in 2005-06, has been linked to the Delhi team.

Indian fielding coach Robin Singh and Venkatesh Prasad, the bowling coach, are also expected to join franchises as coaches.

Both Bangalore and Mumbai are also believed to be interested in Buchanan playing a significant role.

"If I was to sign with a franchise, I would need to know that I was employed to do more than just coach a team," Buchanan was reported as saying.

Buchanan claimed he was excited by the IPL Twenty20 concept.

ANI