In an expected but unprecedented move, the cricket selection committee has axed two star players – captain Raju Khadka and Mehboob Alam from the team that will travel to Hong Kong for the three-day match later this month.
Opening batsman Paresh Lohani has been named captain in the team announced today by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) today. Paresh will become the fifth player to captain Nepali senior side when Nepal take on Hong Kong in an ACC Fast Track Country Tournament tie scheduled for 20 to 31 October.
Raju and Mehboob are not even named as alternative players. This is the first time Raju has been excluded from the team since his debut for the national team in 1996. He is only player with the team since Nepal’s entrance in the international stage. Mehboob too has been a regular player in the national side since 2000.
Middle-order batsman Dipendra Chaudhary, who missed the game against United Arab Emirates at home due to knee injury, is also excluded despite being fit now. The new players replacing Raju and Mehboob are two brothers – fast bowler Manjeet and all-rounder Yunil Shrestha.
“They were not included because they were not performing,†chief selector Bijaya Sharma told NepalCricket.com. Raju, who is an all-rounder, scored 106 runs in last six innings while took a wicket bowling only 14 overs. In a humiliating defeat against UAE, he scored 12 and 8 and was out on the first innings in an irresponsible shot.
Mehboob, although was doing average job as an opening bowler, failed to impress as opening batsman. The selection committee felt ‘his natural style of aggressive batting is not suitable for three-day game.’
Raju too has taken the decision ‘positively’. “I’ve taken it positively,†Raju told NepalCricket.com. “I was not performing well in last few games, may be because of tiring three-day matches.†He said that he would make a return to the team with good performance.
“They are welcome again if they perform well,†Sharma said. “But we need to do something to stop the dithering performance of Nepali team.†Sharma added: “We will not forget them, because they have contributed a lot to Nepali cricket, but they have to prove that they deserve a place in team.â€Â
Sharma denied to call it ‘axing’ adding that they might get considered for the team to play one-day matches. “This is not a biased decision,†he said. “This all is for the good of Nepali cricket.â€Â
Binod Das retains his place as vice-captain. The team: Paresh Lohani (captain), Binod Das (vice-captain), Manjeet Shrestha, Manoj Katuwal, Raj Kumar Pradhan, Kaniska Chaugai, Yunil Shrestha, Sanjam Regmi, Bikash Dali, Sarad Veswakar, Paras Khadka, Raju Basnet, Dhirendra Chand and Shakti Guachan. The four players named as alternatives are Mahesh Chettri, Pramod Basnet, Prajwal Mani Dixit and Yashwant Subedi.
Ranjeet Rana and Diwakar Ghale will travel to Hong Kong as manager and assistant manager while Jung Bahadur Thapa will be assisting coach Roy Dias.