Coach Pubudu Dassanayake said, “I will go back if Nepal does not qualify for the World Cup.”
This was when he renewed his contract for another year. Dassanayake aims to take Nepal to the World Cup, during his tenure.
The former Sri Lankan Test player came to Nepal in October, 2011. He extended his contract for a year, after his initial six-month tenure. This is his second extension.
Nepal reached the semi-final of ACC T20 during his initial stint. This time around, Nepal reached the final of the same championship. Before him, Nepal had failed to stay in the tournament beyond the group stage.
In past one and half year, Nepal has won World Cricket League Division 4, apart from becoming joint winner of ACC Trophy Elite. With the promotion to WCL Division 3 and having been finalist in the ACC T20 Cup, Nepal looks nearer to World Cup cricket than ever before.
Nepali team is playing in the Division 3 in two weeks time, in Bermuda. Nepal will have a shot at final selection round of World Cup Cricket (One Day International), if it finishes among top two teams in the 6-nation championship. In November this year, the team will also play in World T20 qualifiers. 6 teams out of the 16, playing in the qualifiers would qualify for World T20, scheduled for next year in Bangladesh.
“My aim is to take Nepal to the World Cup,” says Dassanayake, adding that he is ‘enjoying’ training Team Nepal.
“If Nepal doesn’t qualify for World Cup, my stay would not have any meaning. I will honor my contract though. We have good opportunity playing World T20. But our aim is also to qualify for the One Day World Cup. At least we should get ODI status.”
42-year-old Dassanayake has played 11 Tests, 16 ODIs for Sri Lanka, and a total of 108 First Class matches. In 2007, he became national coach of Canada. The former wicketkeeper-batsman took the Canadian team to World Cup 2011. After the World Cup, played in India, he did not extend his contract with Cricket Canada. The Canadian national came to Nepal to replace another Sri Lankan Roy Dias, who had been at the helm of Nepali team for over 9 years.
Ashoknath Pyakurel, General Secretary of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), evaluates one and half years of Nepali team under Dassanayake, “Nepali Cricket’s results have been encouraging during Dassanayake’s tenure. In that, there could be role of CAN and players’ too. But coach’s role is more important.”
Pyakurel says, “For now, both sides agreed to extend it for one year. Both the sides are ready to extend it further, if needs be.”
Sources say, Dassanayake did not have ‘extra demand’ during the renewal. However, CAN is to pay for his expenses during Nepal stay, in the new contract. He will receive 1000 dollars as lodging and food allowance. Earlier, it was around 6-700 dollars. Dassanayake receives $ 5,000 as salary, out of which around 4,000 comes from ACC funding.
By Binod Pandey
Ed: This article appeared in Nepali Daily Nagarik on 14th April, 2013
(Further edited on 21 April, 2013)