Nepal’s national cricket coach Pubudu Dassanayake has resigned, citing personal reasons.

The Sri Lanka born Canadian was reappointed the national cricket coach in December last year. He had quit in October 2015 after his five-year stint with Nepal. He was instrumental in guiding the national team to 2014 ICC World Twenty20.

He was appointed for a two-year term.

“It didn’t happen overnight, I have to take this decision due to some personal and family reasons,” said Dassanayak at a press conference in Kathmandu. “It is one of the toughest decisions… that I have to leave the team midway.”

Dassanayake, 52, had succeeded Sri Lankan World Cup winning coach Dav Whatmore who resigned as Nepal national cricket coach in September last year. He too had cited personal reasons. He coached the team for just nine months after his appointment in January last year.

Cricket Association of Nepal then had invited applications for the head coach on October 18. Among 60 applicants for the hot seat, the Coach Recruitment Committee shortlisted seven candidates for interview.

Along with Dassanayake, Indian coach Monty Desai was also in the race.

The committee, however, chose Dassanayake as the national team had made rapid progress under him during his last stint.

"I am simply gratified and blessed that I have got this opportunity to work with the Cricket Association of Nepal. I am hopeful I would be able now to take Nepal cricket to a great height as we have immense talent not only at senior level but also at the junior level," Dassanayake had said after his appointment. “I would like to thank CAN and the entire management, cricket fans from Nepal for providing me this wonderful opportunity.”

On Wednesday, while announcing his resignation, he said that he was sorry for not being able to finish the job.

“I apologise I could not finish the job, but I am happy inside that Nepal is moving forward in the right direction,” he said.