Dav Whatmore, who holds the record of coaching number of international and domestic teams has taken a hard decision to leave the coaching of Nepal team.

"Yes indeed, it was a hard decision to leave this Nepal team before the expiry of my contract", he said over the telephone from Oman.

The 67-year-old Whatmore's resignation letter to the Cricket Association of Nepal CAN) took everyone by surprise. "It (the resignation) may be sudden to you but not to me. It's a gradual build up".

Whatmore did not make the reason for leaving Nepal team public. "It has nothing to do with the CAN. I'm now giving my full attention to the series ahead," he emphasised.

It is learnt that 67-year-old Whatmore's decision was influenced by the Covid-19 pandemic, which has made it difficult for him to see his family.

In his email, he has requested his employer to relieve him after the ICC World Cup League tournament. Nepal's last game in the tournament is scheduled to be played on September 19.

"It will be a big loss to us", Binod Das, the cricket manager of the Nepal team said.

"He wants to leave for family reasons. We have persuaded him to stay and also offered him to bring his wife (Katherene) here", Das added.

Whatmore's grand-daughter is in England. Whatmore was born in Colombo and was educated at Royal College, Colombo. He and his family migrated to Australia in 1962 but the duo has now relocated to Sri Lanka, where Whatmore's wife has many friends.

Whatmore, who coached Kerala State, also had an offer from the Baroda Cricket Association in India. He also has a standing offer to coach one or two teams in the forthcoming Lanka Premier league (LPL).