Former India wicket-keeper Sameer Dighe has resigned as the head of the Mumbai’s domestic team after serving for just one year due to personal reasons, forcing the multiple-time champions to search for a new coach. Dighe, who played six Tests and 23 ODIs for India between 2001-02, took the position as eh coach of the Mumbai team after the conclusion of the 2016-17 season. However, he refused to extend his contract after his tenure ended recently.

An anonymous MCA office-bearer said, “The contract with Dighe was for a year. His contract had ended. We (Mumbai Cricket Association) asked him whether he wanted to continue (with the job) but he said that due to some family issues, he did not want to continue. We will appoint a new coach soon.”

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The 49-year-old Dighe took over Mumbai team’s coaching job from another former India wicket-keeper Chandrakant Pandit. But under Dighe, the 41-time Ranji Trophy champions couldn’t manage to qualify for the semi-finals last season by Karnataka. Mumbai then made to the knock-out stages of the Vijay Hazare and Syed Mushtaq Ali T20 Trophy but ended the season without a title.

Another official in the know-how of the development claimed that Dighe had asked for a period of time of three to four days time to take a call, but eventually decided not to continue.

Talking about the same, MCA joint secretary Unmesh Khanvilkar said, “He got back to us today, saying that he’s quitting due to family reasons. His parents aren’t keeping well.” As quoted in Times of India, Khanvilkar added, “We’ll convene a meeting of the Cricket Improvement Committee (CIC) and ask them to pick a candidate.”