Nepal’s former coach Pubudu Dassanayake is poised to make a brief return to look after the national cricket team for the upcoming ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) home matches against Namibia.

Dassanayake had quit as Nepal coach following the WCLC second round matches against Papua New Guinea in November but with Nepali cricket failing to appoint his successor due to a dual existence of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the Sri Lanka-born Canadian is expected to look after the team once again for the crucial Namibia game.

With the apprehensive environment still persisting, the International Cricket Council (ICC) is currently overseeing Nepal’s preparation to host Namibia in coordination with the National Sports Council (NSC) and Bhawana Ghimire, the CEO of the Ramesh Silwal-led ad-hoc committee of the cricket governing body.

ICC Asia Development Manager Bandulla Warnapura, who is currently undertaking the inspection of the TU Stadium, hinted towards a probable brief return of Dassanayake.

“We are trying to get him down if he is available. We felt that somebody of that caliber is important for Nepal at this moment because they need to win this game against Namibia to remain in contention for the top four. But nothing is finalised yet,” said Warnapura.

Nepal are taking on the Namibians on April 16 and 18 where victory in both the matches could keep them alive in chase of the top four spot that will give an automatic qualification into the 2018 ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

“We had correspondence with him (Dassanayake) few days back. He has said that he could be available after third (of April). If all parties agree and funds could be given, we will definitely bring him here,” added Warnapura. Coach Jagat Tamatta is currently looking after the national team.

According to Warnapura, Dassanayake’s entire expenses will be borne through the grant that CAN is supposed to receive from the ICC and Asian Cricket Council (ACC). CAN has failed to retrieve the ICC grant of $900,000 since 2014 after it go embroiled in back to back controversies.

When contacted by the Post, Dassanayake said he was asked by the ICC one week back. “I was told to help the national team for the Namibia game. I’ve told them that I can be ready if no one has any problem with it,” said the former coach. Ghimire said Dassanayake could be hired for a brief period as a consultant coach.

Under Dassanayake, Nepal had lost all their four matches – two each against Scotland and Papua New Guinea – and are currently at the bottom of the eight-team tournament. Kenya, the Netherlands, Hong Kong and United Arab Emirates are the other four teams in the event.