WorldCup Qualification is the Ambition PUBUDU DASSANAYAKE

For the Associate member teams in cricket the next few months will be an exciting as well as a challenging time. The teams have the ICC World Twenty20 and the ODI World Cup qualifiers at the end of this year and at the beginning of 2014. One of the teams busy with their preparations from cricket crazy South Asia is the Nepalese cricket team.

The Cricket Association of Nepal and Sri Lanka has had a long-standing relationship, with former Sri Lankan batting great Roy Dias being the coach of Nepal for almost a decade. He was replaced by another Sri Lankan, Pubudu Dassanayake in August 2011.

Pubudu Bathiya Dassanayake represented Sri Lanka as a wicketkeeper in 11 Tests and 16 ODIs between 1993 and 1994, before moving to Canada in 2001. He then went on to represent Canada in the 2005 World Cup qualifier in Ireland, and the following year captained them in the Intercontinental Cup. He took on the post as head coach of the Canadian national side in 2007 and helped them secure a place in the 2011 World Cup. After the World Cup he was appointed as the coach of the Nepal team. Dassanayake is currently in Sri Lanka with the team to play a few practice matches with the Sri Lanka U23 team.

“It’s always nice to come back to my home country. My wife and my kids are in Canada, so I don’t get much opportunity to bring them. Coaching is what brings me here, and I make full use of the opportunities I get to meet with friends and visit some places,” Dassanayake said.

Life and times with the Associate Teams

The former Lankan Test player brings a wealth of experience to Nepal after his time as head coach of Canada and believes he can uplift Nepalese cricket to the same level as Ireland and the Netherlands - who have been qualifying regularly to the World Cups.

“I was the coach of Canada for four years. I learnt a lot during that time. It gave me an insight as to what kind of an environment there is in the associate nations and their standards. I have travelled to every associate country and played them. So I have a very good understanding as to how much effort the boys need to put in order to achieve those heights.”

Challenges are a part of coaching, especially with the associate teams. Having been part of the coaching set-up of an associate member team like Canada, Dassanayake is aware of the challenges that come with the job.

“I am aware of the challenges. The main challenge is the lack of infrastructure and facilities but until they reach a certain level it is all about giving all you have, getting the wins and proving themselves. There is no choice actually, we have to work within the frame,” added Dassanayake.

Even with the difficulties faced by him and the team, during the past two years they have produced consistent performances which have helped them to reach ICC Division 2 from Division 4 and also qualify twice for the Twenty20 World Cup qualifier. Dassanayake believes that his experience is paying dividends with the recent run of good form and

The England Cricket Board supports Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. Like that we as the associate nations from South Asia need the help of neighbouring full member teams

hopes to strengthen that position at their next T20 qualifier, in November this year.

When it comes to teams like Canada most players have migrated from the sub continent, and have prior first class cricket experience. “Yes, that is the backbone of cricket in Canada. A lot of players are from South Asia, so that cricket craziness is there in Canada as well as in Nepal. But when it comes to Nepal all the players are home-grown. People would think that the talent is less compared to other associate nations but there is no shortage of talent. The players are a hard working unit and unlike Canada since they are from the same country the team spirit is that much more.”

Future of Nepal Cricket

Dassanayake believes that they have a steady stream of talent coming through from the U19 age group, who have experience playing in the U19 World Cups against the full member teams. He is confident that along with the current players, these rough diamonds need a bit of polishing and guidance to excel on the international stage.

The former Sri Lanka wicket-keeper is excited about the talent in the squad and their hunger to win. “There are countries like Nepal and Afghanistan who have the potential to come to the top. I will give my best for them to achieve that target. We have a good squad. But they need opportunities. They need to play against full member teams, without that, they cannot come up. The players need that exposure, so tours like these with the Sri Lanka U23 team will greatly benefit the boys. If we finish in the top six in the qualifiers we will get ODI status and with a bit more effort World Cup qualification won’t be too far away,” he said.

There are countries like Nepal and Afghanistan who have the potential to come to the top. I will give my best for them to achieve that target

“The England Cricket Board supports Ireland, Scotland and the Netherlands. Like that we as the associate nations from South Asia need the help of neighbouring full member teams in taking that next step,” a hopeful Dassanayake added.

Cricket in Sri Lanka and memories

Once a Sri Lankan cricket fan, always a Sri Lankan cricket fan! This is what Pubudu Dassanayaka believes. Even if he is living in different time zones he makes it a point to watch almost every match Sri Lanka plays. When asked about the decline in standards of Sri Lanka cricket in recent times he added, “I don’t think it is declining but we are yet to see players in the calibre of Mahela or Sangakkara coming up. It is mainly school cricket which has contributed immensely to the growth of cricket in the country so you need to uplift the standards of school’s cricket.”

Even as a player, with a short lived stint in international cricket and as a coach he had some interesting memories to share with us. “Getting the Test cap was easily the best moment in my cricketing life.

Apart from that in ‘93 we won an ODI against India in India, which is no easy task. We had a good start to the chase but lost a few quick wickets in the middle. But Aravinda and I were able to guide the team to victory,” he said adding, “In terms of coaching, taking Canada to the 2011 World Cup was a dream come true for me. It’s no easy task. That gave me a good picture as to how to build a small team against the big guns in world cricket.”

When asked about a return home, “Well it all depends. My career will be coaching and I am enjoying my stint with the Nepalese team. If I get an opportunity to give my services back to the country I’ll be very happy.”