Canada's coach Michael Dighton resigns

Michael Dighton has resigned as Canada's coach after being in charge of the side for eight months. Dighton accompanied the team on a preparation camp for the World Twenty20 Qualifier in Sri Lanka, the World Twenty20 Qualifier in the UAE and Canada's tour of Namibia during his tenure.

Cricket Canada vice president Vimal Hardat said he was disappointed to lose a coach with the calibre of Dighton. "[We] understand his reasons [for resigning] and thank him for his contribution to Cricket Canada. We wish him all the best in the future," Hardat said.

Cricket Canada's CEO Doug Hannum said that the board will need to find a replacement quickly as Canada look to qualify for the 2014 T20 Cricket World Cup and the 2015 Cricket World Cup. "[A replacement will be found] well in time for the national team's trip to Scotland in July. We are certainly focussed on putting our best foot forward to get ourselves into the next World Cup cycle and a new coach will be an integral part of that."

Dighton who hails from Queensland has represented Netherlands, Derbyshire, Hampshire, Tasmania and Western Australia. He took charge of Canada's team in October 2011 but they failed to qualify for the ICC World Twenty20 being played in Sri Lanka in September this year.