Nepal ends Monty Desai’s contract, begins search for new head coach

Cricket Association of Nepal has decided not to renew Monty Desai’s contract after a successful two-year stint in charge of men’s team.

“It was not a sudden decision. A board meeting held earlier had decided not to offer him a contract extension. There is no reason to think negatively of him, the decision was more of a mutual agreement”, Chhumbi Lama, CAN spokesperson said.

𝗧𝗵𝗮𝗻𝗸 𝗬𝗼𝘂, 𝗖𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵 𝗠𝗼𝗻𝘁𝘆 🇳🇵

To the coach who turned ‘One Ball Battles’ into unforgettable victories, and a happy dressing room into a family! 🏏✨

From defending our ODI status against the odds to locking horns against Asian giants India and Pakistan at the… pic.twitter.com/8oWf3N8BFo

— CAN (@CricketNep) February 1, 2025

On January 10, 2023, Shri Mrugang Jagdish Desai ‘Monty Desai’ took the head coach role after Manoj Prabhakar’s resignation. He took over the reins as head coach at a time when the team was in a mini-crisis.

He faced the tough work of turning around the team through challenges. He adopted a bold approach and was able to motivate, build a winning mindset, and instill and inspire confidence in his players.

Desai worked with the Nepal national team in the 2015 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers. He also worked as the batting consultant of Nepal’s U-19 side for the ACC U-19 Eastern Region cricket tournament back in 2017.

Under Desai, Nepal regained ODI status in 2023, winning 11-game streak, capturing the hearts and minds of the cricketing world. He also had a record-breaking Asian Games.

During his tenure, Nepal also made their ODI Asia Cup debut and played against India and Pakistan in the group stage. In 2024, Desai helped Nepal to make their second appearance in T20 World Cup and almost steal a win against South Africa by one run.

Desai took to social media to thank Nepal for the opportunity to coach the side, making special mention of the role the fans had in making his time in charge extra special.

Dear Nepal,

This is NOT a goodbye, but a heartfelt THANK YOU! 🙏🏾✨️

On January 10, 2023, I embraced the opportunity with Cricket Association of Nepal, stepping into the unknown with excitement and purpose, hoping to build a story that would leave a lasting impact on Nepal… pic.twitter.com/fMyN0taPl1

— montydesaiofficial (@montydesai) February 2, 2025

“These two years have been unforgettable, filled with cherished moments and shared milestones. The Asia Cup qualification at TU Ground, where fans climbed trees and stood with umbrellas, and the World Cup qualification in Mulpani, where the crowd was electric, defined Nepal’s passion and resilience,” Desai said as part of a lengthy statement.

“This journey had its highs and lows, and I’m grateful to have played a small role alongside CAN Management, selectors, players, coaches, officials, scorers, groundsmen, cameramen, commentators, and my captain, Rohit Paudel. Every individual contributed in their own way, and I deeply value the camaraderie we built.”