Paresh Lohani, the opening batsman, will become the fifth player to captain the Nepali senior cricket team when Nepal will play against Hong Kong at the end of this month. He was appointed captain after three senior players, including former captain Raju Khadka, were axed from the team for their poor performances in the last three three-day matches.
Paresh has had captained the senior side only once before, and that was against the Karnataka State Team in Bangalore in the fast track development tour. In the game, regular captain Khadka was injured. He had also been appointed vice-captain for a game, the three-day InterContinental Cup tie against Malaysia in Kathmandu. At the domestic level, Paresh has captained Mahabir Cricket Club and Region No 3 (Kathmandu).
The biggest challenge for the impressive batsman, who is also the only one to score back-to-back century in the domestic league, will be to consolidate the team to bring back the recently lost confidence.
In his interview with Ujjwal Acharya of NepalCricket.com, Paresh didn’t hide this fact and said that his main focus would be to bring the players together for an impressive performance. Excerpts:
How did you feel when you first knew that you were appointed captain of the national team?
I was happy and overjoyed. I was surprised as well. Now, I have a big responsibility not only as a player but also as a captain. Nonetheless, I’m looking forward to do my job for the country.
What are your plans for the coming matches?
Being a player and also the captain, my main focus will be on the first game against Hong Kong. I’m mentally prepared to lead our side for the first time. My plan is to get my boys together with the help of the management and our coach to perform well and play for the country.
Your team is without three senior players. How do you think the team will perform?
We’ll miss the experience of the three players, no doubt about that. But the team is still a balanced one. We have a young and energetic team, and we’re training well and hard. I feel we’ll perform well and give our hundred percent best to win the matches. We’ve all sat down and discussed our weaknesses and the mistakes that we made in previous matches.
Your next match will be against Hong Kong in a tournament in which Nepal can’t proceed further. How do you take the match?
Any match, either for a country or a state or a club, is very important for players. We play one match at a time. So although the match wouldn’t take us to the finals, we’re determined to do well and try our best to win it.
Analyzing your team, what factors do you find as strengths and what as weaknesses?
For the last five years during which I’ve been playing for the country, our bowling and fielding have been outstanding and they are always our biggest strengths. Our team spirit is also another strength. Batting has let us down in some occasions, but we’re very much prepared to do well in all the three departments.
What aspects, besides batting, do you think your side needs to improve on?
First of all, we should have the mental toughness to cope up with any situation. We’ve talented players on our side, but they all should be practical and have positive frame of mind. Most of all, they should apply themselves to the situation at hand. With the talents and skills already there, and if we could improve on these plus points, we would play as a professional team.