Dhammika Prasad shortlisted to head Nepal cricket

By Bipin Dani

Former Sri Lankan fast bowler Dhammika Prasad is one of five cricketers shortlisted for the position of head coach of the Nepal cricket team, it is reliably learned.
According to highly placed sources in the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the 40-year-old former fast bowler, who has played 50 international matches (Tests: 25, ODIs: 24, T20Is: 1), had applied for the head coach post and was recently interviewed online.

Incidentally, Prasad was a fast bowling consultant for the Nepal team for two series against the USA and Scotland teams.

The other four shortlisted and interviewed candidates are Monty Desai (India), Glenn Pocknall (New Zealand), Russell Domingo (South Africa), and Dav Whatmore (Australia).
The most popular of these five is the seasoned Whatmore.

However, Whatmore is contracted with the Vadodara Cricket Association in India, and his contract runs until March 2023. He had to withdraw from coaching Nepal as he was unable to join the team soon after India’s Manoj Prabhakar’s contract ended prematurely.

Domingo recently resigned from Bangladesh coaching, and as per the latest information received, Domingo too has revoked his application. “I need some time off now,” he said to this reporter.

Desai’s term with the West Indies team as batting coach has ended, while Pocknall is a renowned coach in New Zealand who was instrumental in shaping Devon Conway.