Shakti Gauchan, Antim Thapa, Raju Khadka & Paras Khadka
The cricketers who received the Baluwatar Cricket Club awards on Sunday.
Paras Khadka – Youth Player of the Year 2060
As the captain of Under-17 national team, he was instrumental in Nepal’s praiseworthy performance in U-17 Asia Cup in India. Paras scored 205 runs in 5 matches with an average of 68.33 and took four wickets in the event. Besides, he was also a part of the U-19 team that won the Youth Asia Cup and went to play the Youth World Cup in Bangladesh. He scored 129 runs in 9 matches while taking 5 wickets in the U-19 but his emergence as an economic opening bowler was the discovery of U-19 World Cup.
Other players considered: Shakti Gauchan, Kaniska Chaugai, Manjit Shrestha, Lakpa Lama and Sarad Vesawkar
Antim Thapa – Youth Player of the Year 2061
Nepal played only two age-group international matches in the year – the first two matches of the U-15 ACC Trophy in UAE. Antim Thapa scored a brilliant 47 unbeaten runs for a victory against Afghanistan and took five catches. He also captained Region No 4 Bhairahawa team to U-15 National League victory.
Other Players considered: Dipen Shreshta, Angel Acharya and Chandra Saud
Raju Khadka – Player of the Year 2060
The then captain Raju Khadka scored a brilliant 67 runs in the first first-class match for the country – the ICC InterContinental tie against UAE at their home. His innings helped Nepal to draw the match. He scored 94 runs in other two international matches including 70 against Maldives in the final of the Emerging Nations Trophy to take Nepal from 102/6 to a commendable total. Same year, Raju scored a record-breaking 153 in the National League held in Birgunj. The score, that recorded highest number of sixes in an innings of the national league, is also the best individual innings score of the event.
Other Players considered: Mehboob Alam, Paresh Lohani and Binod Das
Shakti Gauchan – Player of the Year 2061
It was the toughest choice but Shakti Gauchan edged past Mehboob Alam with his performances in three-dayers. Mehoob was the top-scorer and top-wicket taker ahead of Shakti in one-dayers but in three dayers Shakti did better. Shakti scored 163 runs (Mehboob 217) and took 18 wickets (Mehboob 19) in 10 one-dayers. In longer version of the game, Shakti scored 243 (Mehboob 128) runs and took 6 (Mehboob 8 ) wickets in five matches.
Other Players considered: Mehboob Alam, Paresh Lohani and Binod Das
Avaya Rana, Sunam Gautam, Rikesh Lama & Dipen Shrestha
Dipen Shrestha – BCC Training Center Player of the Year 2060
Sunam Gautam – BCC Training Center Player of the Year 2061
Rikesh Lama – Baluwatar Cricket Club Player of the Year 2060
Avaya Rana – Baluwatar Cricket Club Player of the Year 2061
Photos by Bikash Karki