New Zealand coach Andy Moles quit on Saturday, ending a stand-off in which senior players had appealed for him to be sacked. Moles was standing down “in the best interests” of the organisation following a review of the recent tour of Sri Lanka and the Champions Trophy tournament, a New Zealand Cricket release said. Chief executive Justin Vaughan said no immediate replacement would be named for the upcoming series against Pakistan in the United Arab Emirates, leaving captain Daniel Vettori in charge of a coachless side.

English-born Moles, a surprise choice to replace John Bracewell as the coach of the New Zealand team last November, was contracted through to the 2011 World Cup but lasted less than a year in the job. Moles, 48, said he held no grudge against the players but was aggrieved at the sudden revelation of their concerns. “It is unfortunate that it (coaching deficiencies) wasn’t raised before and that will be looked at,” the former Warwickshire batsman said.