An interview with the mastermind behind the ACC Award winning women’s cricket initiatitive – LB Chhetri. Chhetri, the former captain of Nepal and current Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) member, says he has been encouraged by the award.
Nepali woman cricket players have received an encouragement award from the Asian Cricket Council (ACC). Lekh Bahadur Chhetri has played a vital role in organizing cricket tournaments and especially three women’s events in Banke. Chhetri was the national vice-captain in the First ACC Trophy in 1996 and led Nepal in the second edition.
Chhetri says he has been encouraged by the ACC’s Development Award for the Best Women’s Cricket Initiatives for development and spreading of the women’s cricket. Excerpts of the talk with the chairman of the Region No 5 Nepalgunj Cricket Development Region:
How did you come up with the idea of organizing women’s cricket?
No one was thinking of the women’s cricket despite the popularity of men’s cricket in the country. There were talks like women’s can’t play cricket. That’s why the women’s cricket began in 2004 with the slogan of Gender Equality with the support from PLAN Nepal.
How you felt the importance of it?
Boys’ events are always organized in various age-groups. But there was none for women so we thought of its need. There were also negative comments like women’s cricket can’t be done which fuelled the thought.
How was the women’s participation?
First, we went to 40 to 42 schools for training and interaction. We had hoped for 15 teams for the inaugural event but 29 teams participated. For two years, the event was organized with the support from PLAN Nepal but now they say they can’t fund it anymore.
So, what’s the future of the event?
We will organize the event anyhow. We are requesting PLAN Nepal, if they couldn’t we will find other sponsors. This year, we will organize the secondary and higher secondary level events with the proper cricket ball.
What is your reaction to the ACC Development Award?
We have been encouraged. It has added to our confidence that the thing we have started is effective. Now, Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has to come up with the policy and plan for the national level women’s cricket. If Banke can organize such events, why not in other places?
What has been done so far to spread women’s cricket?
In Banke, we have been organizing events. In Nepalgunj, Royal Sports Club and Kohalpur Youth Club is organizing tournaments but we have not been able to run regular training due to lack of financial resources. We also don’t have the training center and groud.
Any future plans?
We will try to take women’s cricket at grassroot level. We have so far been organizing only school level events, now we are thinking of higher level events.
BY SHARAD DHITAL