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Nepali cricket team head coach Pubudu Dassanayake has stepped down from the post with more than a year remaining on his contract.

Having first taken charge of Team Nepal from 2011 to 2015, Dassanayake returned in December for his second stint with the team. He had signed a two-year deal with the Nepal Cricket Association (CAN).

Dassanayake, who is said to have emailed his resignation letter to CAN a week ago, confirmed the decision at a media conference on Wednesday.

“It is with regret that I cannot carry on due to personal reasons,” he said.

Pressed on by reporters for a specific reason, the 52-year-old coach retorted: “If you don't take a decision now, you will have to regret it later."

But the coach had been under pressure after a poor run of results.

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During his first innings that lasted five years, Dassanayake inspired Nepal to the ICC World Cricket League Division 1 from 4. Nepal achieved a historic feat by qualifying to the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh.

Hopes were high when he returned to take the team mantle for the second time. Dassanayake had dual challenges: to qualify for the T-20 World Cup and regroup the fractured national team.

But the situation was far from idle.

If inconsistent results were not enough, CAN’s classification of players in its central contract had driven a wedge into the national squad. The association had sacked Gyanendra Malla as team captain and Dipendra Singh Airy as vice-captain on November 15 on disciplinary grounds.

The head coach, however, assured to make efforts in resolving the issue of player classification.

Under new captain Sandeep Lamichhane, Nepal showed flashes of brilliance, yet the team could hardly find a winning momentum.

Nepal managed four wins in five outings in the T20 World Cup Global Qualifier held in Oman. Nepal’s semi-final loss to the United Arab Emirates put paid to their World Cup ambitions.

Under his tutelage, Nepal played three triangular series under the ICC Cricket World Cup League Two. In a total of 12 games, the team could muster only four wins and a draw, while losing seven.

That included a 2-0 debacle in the One Day International series to Papua New Guinea—Nepal’s worst display at home ever.

The Sri Lankan-born Canadian, who calls Nepal his second home, has warm wishes for the team. “With the talented squad of players, I hope Nepal will very soon change their fortunes in the right direction and climb up the ranks.”