In the game of cricket, all-rounder always has a second chance – either with the bat or the ball or even with the gloves on. Three of the team members of the Nepali U-19 side for the Youth World Cup in Sri Lanka have the caliber to bring win with their contribution in either of the departments.
The group, led by vice-captain Paras Khadka, a talented medium pacer and batsman, include wicket-keeper Mahesh Chhetri and pacer-turned spin all-rounder Basant Regmi.
Paras is more of a specialist batsman and only came out of the part-time bowler into a strike bowler with his economical bowling in the last Youth World Cup in 2004 in Bangladesh. There, he was a surprise bowler – sharing the new balls to bowl brilliantly.
This time there is more responsibility with the boy already in the national team as he has been appointed the vice-captain. He had captained U-17 team for the ACC U-17 Cup. “My plan for this time, as always, is to support the team under any situation and to play according to the need of the team,” the lanky middle-order batsman said.
Paras is a team man and don’t want to count on his personal performance. “I have no goals on figures,” he said. “I want to contribute, either with the bat or ball or hopefully both, for the team’s victory.” Paras was with the national team when the team traveled to Sri Lanka in 2004 and experienced the playing conditions there.
“I feel scoring runs against fast bowlers will be difficult for us,” he said adding that the two-week preparation tour would decrease the weakness.
Basant on the other hand played for Nepal U-19 in 2002 as a fast bowler and since then has missed just a U-19 event – the ACC U-19 Cup in Karachi 2003. But in between, he has turned into a spinner due to injury and has improved his batting a lot. He was used as substitute of pacer Amrit Bhattarai during ACC Cup in Kathmandu and would probably have to give up his bowling for the same reason in World Cup too.
“Our batting will improve with an extra batsman,” Basant said about the super-sub rule. “I hope to bat well for Nepal’s victory if used as an substitute.”
Mahesh, the wicket-keeper of the team, is capable of scoring a few runs with his bat. He played to innings in the level and scored 36 runs and was unbeaten on 68 in one of them. In five matches he had played for the team, he had nine victims including two stumpings and that shows his talent as a wicket-keeper.
Mahesh has represented the country in U-15 and U-17 level and also have been included in the national squad for three-day matches. “I haven’t done that well in international level,” he said about his batting. “I wish to play well for the team.”