Nepal’s fourth-place finish in the ACC Trophy 2006 almost ended its chances of qualifying for the 2011 Cricket World Cup. However, the International Cricket Council (ICC) has thrown a lifeline to Nepal taking a decision to extend the World Cricket League (WCL) thereby opening the doors once again for the qualification.
An opening it may be, but it still needs a diplomatic push from Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) before the players finally get the chance to prove their ranks.
The fifth division of the WCL has been planned for the first half of 2008 AD with five among eight participants already confirmed. Afghanistan, as the third place finisher in the ACC Trophy, is in the league with Argentina, Botswana, Cook Islands and Norway.
The remaining three are the places for the best ranked countries not yet in any division of WCL. Nepal will be competing with Jersey, Germany, Bahamas, Singapore, Mozambique, Zambia and Japan to fill the three positions. The three countries will be selected by the December 2006 meeting of the ICC Development Committee headed by ICC CEO Malcolm Speed.
“This is a chance for CAN to prove itself and erase bad memories of ACC Trophy,” former national captain Pawan Agrawal comments. “Since the three teams will be selected on a subjective assessment of the ICC Development Committee, Nepal should start its diplomatic efforts to convince the committee that it deserves a place.”
“The Development Committee had met in Nepal and they (members) know the cricket of Nepal,” Agrawal added. “We should try to persuade people like Roy Dias, Rumesh Ratnayake and Sultan Rana, also a committee member, to support us.”
The top two teams from Division 5 qualify for the Division 4 to be held in late 2008. The remaining four countries in the Division 4 would be the bottom four finishers from the 2007 competition of Division 3. The Division 3 consists of Hong Kong, Cayman Islands, Fiji, Italy, Papua New Guinea, Tanzania, Uganda and USA.
The 2008 competition of Division 4 will pick two countries to qualify for 2009 Division 3 competition and the top two from the Divison 3 will then qualify for the ICC World Cup Qualifiers which will then decide the six countries to participate in the 2011 World Cup. Although the road looks tough, it is possible for the Division 5 countries to qualify for the 2011 World Cup in just 18 months with some magical performances.
“There is still time to prepare if we get an entry,” the former captain adds. “We can turn our team of raw talents to a matured senior side if we work seriously.” He feels that an immediate mission plan should be chalked out and players be selected for the training.
Nepal, if selected by the Development Committee meeting for Division 5, will have to reach three finals – of Divison 5, Division 4 and Division 3 – in 2008 and 2009 to qualify for the WC Qualifiers and then finish in the top six in it to make it to the World Cup.