THE CANADIAN PRESS
TORONTO — Jimmy Hansra has stepped down as captain of Canada’s senior men’s cricket team, Cricket Canada announced Wednesday.
Cricket Canada vice president Vimal Hardat confirmed that the board accepted Hansra’s resignation. Hansra’s decision came after Canada went winless at the Caribbean Twenty20 tournament last month.
"Jimmy conveyed to us after the Caribbean T20 tournament his wish to stand down from the captaincy," Hardat said in a statement. "While we asked him to reconsider, we accept his decision and look forward to his future contributions to our organization. Jimmy has been a class act since he joined the program and he carried himself admirably throughout his period as captain. We wish him all the best."
Hansra said in a statement he is looking forward to helping Canada qualify for the 2012 Twenty20 Cricket World Cup.
"I would like to thank the organization for giving me the opportunity to lead Canada," Hansra said. "In my short stay as captain, I have thoroughly enjoyed the role and have learned a lot in a very short time. It has helped me grow as a cricketer and as an individual.
"However, looking ahead and putting cricket in front, I believe I need to focus on my game more and I can offer more to Cricket Canada as a player at this moment than a Captain."
Hansra was one of Canada’s top performers at the 2011 Cricket World Cup, and after the tournament he assumed the captaincy from Ashish Bagai.
A replacement for Hansra has not yet been named.