Former India all-rounder and Under-19 coach Robin Singh has taken up a job with the Hong Kong national cricket team and would not be available for the colts' upcoming series against England [Images].

Robin has signed up a two-year contract after being associated with the Hong Kong national side for the past one year.

"I have not taken up a permanent job but signed a two-year contract with Hong Kong," Singh said on Thursday.

"Hong Kong are at the critical stage of their campaign to qualify for the ICC [Images] Inter-Continental Cup. And with the final stages of the event clashing with the one-dayers against England, I couldn't have left them midway," he said.

The India U-19 side is to play three Tests and five one-dayers at home against England. The first Test begins in Bangalore on January 22.

Robin had been working as the Indian U-19 coach on an assignment-to-assignment basis and his last stint with the youngsters was the Junior Asia Cup in Sri Lanka [Images] in 2004.

Robin said he was open to coaching Indian cricketers in future.

"I have spoken to the BCCI Chief about the whole thing," he said.

Robin Singh is the second coach to have moved to greener pastures after Sandeep Patil, coach of India A, opted for a job with Oman.