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Simpson denies coaching deal with Indian board

Former Australian captain and coach Bob Simpson denied today that he had signed up with India to help its 1999 World Cup campaign.

Jayant Lele, secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India, announced on Sunday that Simpson had been appointed technical consultant ahead of the World Cup in England.

BCCI president Raj Singh Dungarpur had said Simpson was expected in India in February.

Simpson said he had discussed the job, but nothing had been decided.

"I certainly had some discussions with them when I was in India recently acting as International Cricket Council referee, but I haven't been officially informed, nor do I know anything about the appointment,'' Simpson said in Sydney.

He said he did not know the job specifications and would only be interested if it was a part-time position.

Simpson said he had held discussions with both Dungarpur and Lele. "They asked me whether I'd be interested in an involvement in coaching India and I said not on a full-time basis, but I would consider doing some consultancy work,'' he added.

When Rediff On The NeT contacted Dungarpur in Bombay, the BCCI chief said, "I don't know why everyone is calling me. We took the decision only yesterday, so how do you expect us to convey the news to Bob so soon?"

Simpson, Dungarpur said, "is an old friend of mine, and I don't see any problem in his accepting the post. In any case, he will be appointed as a consultant, so that implies a part-time position."

If he accepted an offer from the BCCI, Simpson would find himself working against the Australians in a Test series in India next year.

"I don't think that would be any real problem. I'd only be there on a consultancy basis to assist them to do certain things,'' Simpson said.

He said it was now for the BCCI to officially contact him about what it wanted him to do. He thought his position could be utilised to organise practice sessions and encourage better use of playing talent.

"They are a team with an enormous amount of talent and I think they can do a lot better. I really do,'' Simpson said.

He said his contractual arrangement with the Australian Cricket Board required him to visit every state at least once a year in whatever capacity the states required.

The Test opener coached Australia for the best part of a decade, guiding them to a win in the 1987 World Cup and the 1996 final before being replaced by Geoff Marsh last year.

UNI, Syed Firdaus Ashraf