Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is set to begin works at the Mulpani for the cricketing facilities after Asian Cricket Council (ACC) agreed to release the initial budget of US$ 100,000 recently, a senior cricket official confirmed.
“Although ACC had decided not to go ahead with the plans of Central Cricket Academy, they have principally agreed to support us for construction of cricket infrastructure at the site,†CAN president Binaya Raj Pandey said. “They have released the initial budget and will add more looking at our progress.â€Â
ACC had earlier announced the construction of the academy in Kathmandu, but due to various reasons the work couldn’t begin in due dates. Later ACC re-evaluated their plans and decided that with India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh having their own academies and ICC building one in Dubai, UAE, it was unnecessary financial burden.
Pandey attended the ACC Development Committee meeting in Lahore, Pakistan earlier this month and suggested to develop the land, provided by the government, as the high-altitude training center. “I told them that if the government decides to take the land back, it would be a loss to cricket,†he added.
ACC Introduce Associate Ranking
ACC has also introduced a ranking system for the associate members for the development programs looking at the performance of the all age-group and senior teams. Nepal is at the top-spot of the ranking ahead of UAE. “The ranking is supposed to help ACC on deciding development programs,†Pandey said. “So, its good for us.â€Â
The meeting also decided to award Nepal two Asian level events in next two years – Under-15 ACC Cup in 2007/8 and Under-17 ACC Cup in 2008/9.
ICC Interested in Nepal
Meanwhile, International Cricket Council (ICC) has written to ACC expressing their interest in doing a pilot program for the development of cricket in Nepal. “ACC had welcomed their interest with a note that ACC or CAN wouldn’t bear any financial burden,†Pandey said.
Two Asian Associate for U-19 WC
ICC has also decided to give Malaysia an automatic qualification to the upcoming Under-19 Youth World Cup 2008 as the hosts thus increasing the number of Asian associates from one to two. Either the winner, or runners-up in case of Malaysia finishing first, will qualify for the event while only one European associate join the fray. Malaysia had been the runners-up to Nepal for last three U-19 ACC Cups thus losing out the qualification to the Youth World Cup.