Canada's head coach, Pubudu Dassanayake, will step down at the end of the month as Cricket Canada has decided not to renew his contract. The former Sri Lanka and Canadian international had been informed about his potential dismissal before the T20 World Cup, but the decision was not finalised at the time. Now, with his contract ending in July, Cricket Canada has opted not to extend it.
This decision has faced criticism, particularly from former president Rajpal Bajwa. He told that the decision reflects past mistakes by Cricket Canada and raises concerns about the organisation's future. Bajwa lamented, "It is unfortunate that the new board has decided to let go of Pubudu, despite his impressive record of hitting all the milestones we had set in his contract."
Dassanayake returned as Canada's coach in July 2022 when the team was competing in the second tier of Associate one-day competition, the CWC Challenge League, after losing their ODI status in 2014. Under his leadership, Canada remained unbeaten in the Challenge League, topping their group and securing a place at the 2023 World Cup Qualifier Playoff in Namibia. They finished fourth, reclaiming their ODI status for the first time in nearly a decade. Canada also advanced from the CWC Challenge League to the top tier of Associate competition, CWC League 2, where they currently lead the table.
Dassanayake also guided Canada through the Americas T20 Regional Final last year, qualifying for the 2024 T20 World Cup. This marks Canada’s first appearance at the T20 World Cup and their first return to the global stage since the 2011 fifty-over edition. Although Canada did not advance past the group stage, they secured a win against Ireland, their first victory over a Full Member at an ICC pinnacle tournament.
In light of these achievements, Bajwa expressed regret over Dassanayake's departure, stating, "Canada will be losing a coach with immense knowledge and insight into associate cricket. Coach Pubudu is, and will continue to be, the right man for this job in Cricket Canada. His dedication and expertise will leave a lasting impact on Canadian cricket."
Team captain Saad bin Zafar also praised Dassanayake, acknowledging his exceptional coaching skills and dedication. He credited Dassanayake for helping the team regain ODI status and qualify for their first-ever T20 World Cup, which underscored his ability to lead and inspire the team to achieve excellence.
Dassanayake highlighted the team's achievements during his second stint, particularly the victory over Ireland and the success in 50-over cricket. He stated, "Beating a test-playing country at a World Cup was special, and I'm proud of where we are in 50-over cricket too, going 4-0 in Dubai (against the UAE and Scotland) to climb to the top of the table in Associate ODIs. Building a team culture and strong team values has always been key to my approach, and I'm proud of what we've achieved as a team. I'm looking forward to the next challenge."