Wai Wai Sponsors Rs 770,000 for U-19

Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) unveiled a Wai Wai-sponsored intensive Under-19 domestic tournaments leading to the Under-19 ACC Trophy.

Nepal, the three-time defending champions of the Youth World Cup qualifier, has to field a untested team for the event scheduled for August 2007 in Malaysia as almost all players of the last event have crossed the age-bar.

“Our pride is under-19 level because we have won the Asian level tournaments and done well in world stage,” CAN president Binaya Raj Pandey said in the press conference. “But, we have to field the untested players and we want to ensure best possible preparation for them.”

According to CAN program, the intra-district qualifying tournaments begin on January 5, 2007 leading to the inter-district level regional event and inter-region Wai Wai Under-19 National League. CG Foods (Nepal) Pvt Ltd, the producer of Wai Wai instant noodles, is the sponsor for the event spending a minimum of Rs. 770,000.

“Apart from that Wai Wai will also provide trophies, certificates and bear other similar costs right from the intre-district events,” Pandey added. “So the actual amount they spend will be bigger than that.”

Wai Wai representative Lal Babu Prasad promised cash prizes in the national league. “Last year, we awarded the champions Rs. 50,000 and runners-up Rs. 25,000 along with Rs. 10,000 prize for the best bowler, best batsman and man of the series,” he said. “We are thinking of similar rewards this year too.”

Nirvana Chaudhary, the executive director of Chaudhary Group, lauded the youngsters’ performance and hoped better from them in coming days. “Wai Wai is and always will be a part of the Under-19 cricket in Nepal,” he added.

Meanwhile, CAN said that the U-19 team, currently training in Bhairahawa, will leave for Bangalore to participate in the U-19 BN Roy Memorial International Trophy on Thursday. The team is led by Gyanendra Malla.