After the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) announced not to retain him sighting financial inabilities on June 30, the government stepped in to hand the coach  one-year contract extension on July 2. However, Dassanayake’s arrival was in limbo after CAN said it was unaware about his extension blaming Youth and Sports Ministry (MoYS) for keeping it in dark. Although the MoYS and CAN are yet to clear out the confusion over Dassanayake’s status, the former had decided to bring the coach back before the 17th Asian Games.

Dassanayake, who has been apprehensive over the current situation in Nepali cricket, is scheduled to meet MoYS officials on Friday in hope of clearing out the confusion. “I’ve been in regular touch with the ministry. Its up to the ministry now to show me the direction on how to move ahead. I don’t want to get into any controversy,” Dassanayake told reporters after landing at the Tribhuvan International Airport.

“Although I am here I am not going to touch anything until the ministry clears my path,” added the Sri Lankan-born Canadian. “I hope everything clears out soon. The ministry told me to take the job (for the Asian Games) but I don’t know everything in details. I am going to meet the ministry officials tomorrow (on Friday) and get the details,” added the coach. Dassanayake was neither welcomed by CAN nor MoYS officials and after being asked whether he was in correspondence with the cricket governing body, he said: “No”. “I am here to work for Nepali cricket rather than thinking about myself or cricketers. If the system allows me, I will give my 200 per cent.”

The MoYS has asked Dassanayake to lead the team in the Asian Games that begins in Incheon, South Korea, from September 19. CAN had already assigned Arun Aryal as coach for the men’s team but its general secretary Uttam Karmacharya recently said Dassanayake will guide the team as a mentor if he arrives on time.

Dassanayake said his main focus will be the ICC World Cricket League Division-III and Division-II. “The Division-III and Division-II tournaments are the most important period for Nepali cricket and if we miss on our plans, we will go behind for at least another next three years. So we need to put everything into it for the next couple of months and get to Division-II,” said Dassanayake.

“We are going to be one of the best teams in Division-III and I am confident to get through it. But Division-II is a big worry because we will get to play against Netherlands, Kenya, Namibia and Canada, who have been playing ODIs for the last four or five years. Everyone has to raise their level and for that to happen we need to come up with some special programmes.”

National cricketers turn up to receive coach in a role reversal

The national team cricketers have been accustomed to receiving rapturous welcome whenever they returned home from any successful tournament campaign in the past.

But in a role reversal on Thursday a majority of the national team members turned up at the Tribhuvan International Airport to welcome coach Pubudu Dassanayake. Among those at the TIA were skipper Paras Khadka, vice-captain Gyanendra Malla, spinners Shakti Gauchan and Basanta Regmi.

As Dassanayake was pictured at arrivals with his usual grin, the cricketers exchanged smiles with the man whom they have been waiting for three months. Surprised by the welcome, Dassanayake embraced every cricketer one by one.

Dassanayake was moved by the reception from his players. “It was a fantastic. This team has been very close to me for the last three years and it is wonderful to see them around. I didn’t expect them to be here. It’s a good feeling,” said Dassanayake. Khadka, who strongly lobbied for the return of Dassanayake soon after the International Cricket Council (ICC) handed Nepal a Twenty20 International Status,  said: “He deserves better (recognition). The position where Nepali cricket is in right now is because of him. We are very happy. His arrival has given us more confidence and motivation. I hope we will move ahead resolving

all the issues in coming days.”

Khadka was hopeful that everything moves on smooth. “I hope things go in a positive way,” he said. “The Ministry is hopefully going to send the letter to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN)  regarding his appointment. We know CAN, undoubtedly, is the only authority to run cricket in Nepal.

We recently had talks with the ministry and National Sports Council (NSC) officials and expect positive progress. The Ministry will look after the coach but will work under CAN. This is a win-win situation for everyone,” added.