Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Wednesday decided not to extend the contract of long-term coach Roy Luke Dias when it ends in December.
A CAN board meeting also decided to expand the domestic cricket structure by adding two cricket development regions and departmental teams.
“Dias has contributed big for our cricket, but one coach should not continue for very long,” CAN Spokesperson Tarak Mani Dixit told Cricket Nepal. “We will organize a grand farewell to thank him for his great contribution to Nepali cricket.”
Dias joined Nepal in 2001 and has since remained the coach of all age-group and senior teams. Under his inspirational coaching, Nepal achieved new heights and global recognition in cricket.
According to Dixit, CAN will ask Dias to take the team to China for the 16th Asian Games later this year. If he agrees, it will be his last assignment for Nepali cricket.
The board meeting has also decided to give Nepali coaches greater roles in training cricketers. “We will form a committee to look for a new coach but it will only be a need-based seasonal coach,” Dixit said.
The meeting also decided to split Region No 2 Bara and Region No 4 Bhairahawa to make eight cricket development regions. Former captain Uttam Karmacharya has been appointed the chairman of Region No 7 Janakpur, which comprises Dhanusha, Mahottari, Sarlahi, Siraha and Udayapur districts, while Dhirendra Singh Gurung has been appointed the chairman of Region No 8 Pokhara that includes Chitwan, Tanahun, Kaski and Syangja districts.
Former captain Pawan Kumar Agrawal has been appointed the chairman of Region No 2 Birgunj, which now consists of Bara, Parsa, Rautahat and Makawanpur districts.
Similarly, the meeting also decided to include departmental teams – Nepal Police and Armed Police Force for now – in the domestic league.
Meanwhile, the meeting has passed an annual budget of Rs 50 million, a CAN source disclosed to Republica.