Dassanayake in line to resume as Nepal coach

Pubudu Dassanayake, the former Nepal coach, has returned to the country on invitation from the government for the first time since leaving in early June over issues with his contract.

In March, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) had said Dassanayake would get a year's extension. However, due to the board being under investigation, he was only given an additional three months, which ran out in June.

The government had intervened in early July and extended the contract without any official communication to the CAN. There was further confusion when CAN's press release on July 22 announced Nepal's team for the 17th Asian Games with Arun Aryal as the coach.

"I have returned to Kathmandu on the basis of an invite from the Sports Ministry of Nepal and have not received any communication from the CAN," Dassanayake said.

"I understand that the Sports Ministry and the CAN have been in talks prior to my arrival here and there is also a meeting between the two parties scheduled for tomorrow where they will discuss my appointment."

Dassanayake believes, based on discussions with the players, that things will "cool down" and that he will be appointed as the head coach. "I was asked to return to Nepal as soon as possible, so I assume that the CAN and the Sports Ministry will make every effort to reach an expeditious consensus about my working environment, designation and scope of functions."

Dassanayake may be assigned other responsibilities in addition to being appointed coach of the Nepal team. "Based on my discussions with the Sports Ministry, I expect to perform a dual role as a Consultant to the Ministry as well as a coach of the national cricket team," he said. It is still unclear whether Dassanayake's role as consultant will cover sports other than cricket as well.

Nepal's next international assignment is the 2014 Asian Games at Incheon, South Korea next month. "While nothing is official at this point, I expect to travel with the team as the head coach for the Asian Games in Korea," Dassanayake said. "Since Arun Aryal has already been appointed as the coach for the Asian Games, it is possible that he will also travel along with the team."