Kathmandu, October 6

Nepal national cricket team coach Pubudu Dassanayake resigned from his post today.

The Sri Lanka-born Canadian coach, whose contract was suppose to end on December 31, said he would leave the job after next month’s World Cricket League Championship matches against Papua New Guinea, slated for November 16 and 18 in the UAE.

“I always wanted to perform and take Nepal cricket forward,” Dassanayake told The Himalayan Times. “I was left with no option as I didn’t get enough help to do that,” he added. In the letter addressed to CAN acting President Deepak Koirala, Dassanayake said: “I am stepping down as the head coach of Nepal cricket team and probably my last tour would be the WCL Championship matches against PNG. I enjoyed a lot during these four years. I will be happy to help Nepal in this transitional phase and would like to thank CAN, Ministry of and Sports and National Sports Council for the contract.”

Dassanayake also gave a copy of the letter to acting General Secretary Uttam Karmacharya during CAN’s meeting at Hotel Shivam. Dassanayake, who was not happy with the working ways of CAN on several issues including his contract, was annoyed by the reports of disciplinary committee’s recommendation to take action against skipper Paras Khadka. Dassanayake openly expressed his displeasure on his Facebook page about the disciplinary action against Khadka, saying “Sad to see news about Paras today...politics has got over the hill.”

CAN acting president Koirala said that the board meeting would take appropriate decision in due course. “He has given us a letter and we will discuss the matter in our board meeting before taking a decision,” Koirala said. CAN Chief Operating Officer Chhumbi Lama said coach Dassanayake notified the cricket governing body about his intentions. “As per the contract, both parties need to give one-month notice before terminating the contract and the letter came as a notice from his end,” Lama said.

Dassanayake was initially hired for one year in September 2011 for $5,000 per month. He made immediate impact and brought glory to Nepali cricket with the national team winning three titles apart from the maiden World Twenty20 qualification. Buoyed by the success, CAN raised the coach’s salary to $8,000 per month in March last year, but failed to hand over the contract in the absence of board meeting. The cricket governing body instead decided to extend his contract for three months in April.

CAN — which fell into turmoil due to infighting among its officials that led to corruption charges by Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority against 10 officials, including President Tanka Angbuhang — released the coach saying it was not in position to afford his salary. MoYS stepped in and hired the coach after cabinet approved the ministry’s proposal. Nepal