ACC U-19: Nepal Count on Experience

In a bid to qualify for the fifth consecutive Youth World Cup, the Under-19 national cricket team is preparing to conquer the toughest qualifiers.

The team, currently on fourth week of closed-camp training, has to win or finish second behind Malaysia in the ACC U-19 Elite Cup in Malaysia in August to compete for a World Cup spot in a playoff against Scotland – the runners-up of European Qualifiers.

“Every year, the qualifiers are going to be tougher as cricket is going up and every country wants to play in the World Cup,” Nepal’s coach Roy Dias told the Post. “But I have a good side with lots of experience and talent, and I believe we are going to qualify.”

Although the closed-camp training has been marred by rainfall, Nepal will be leaving for Sri Lanka on Thursday for a nine-day preparation camp before moving to Malaysia for the ACC U-19 Elite Cup. “Thanks to Sri Lankan Ambassador to Nepal Sumith Nakandala and Sri Lanka Cricket, Sri Lanka is hosting us for three matches,” Dias added.

Paras Khadka, who has already played in last two World Cups, will be leading the team that consists among others the likes of Sharad Vesawkar, Gyanendra Malla, Sashi Keshari, Akash Gupta, Amrit Bhattarai, Avaya Rana, Raj Shrestha and Mahesh Chhetri. “I have a well balanced side with our strength being the experience,” Dias said.

Apart from Rahul Kumar BK, every member of the team has played at the international level. “Rahul too has shown enough talent to prove himself,” Dias said.

Nepal has an outstanding record in the Youth World Cup. Nepal has won the plate championships and beaten Pakistan, Bangladesh, South Africa and New Zealand which has made Nepal a team to beat at the level. “Every team wants to beat Nepal,” Dias said. “For many non-Test nations, beating Nepal is like winning the event and that put more pressure on us.”

Captain Paras believes that only thing that could be against his team is over-confidence. “We have a good team with high confidence,” he said. “The only thing that can make us lose is our own over-confidence.”

“If we play to our potential, we can beat any team at this level,” he said adding that Afghanistan could be a threat to Nepal. Nepal beat Malaysia in 2001, 2003 and 2005 to qualify for the Youth World Cup while in 1997, Nepal finished second to Bangladesh to qualify.

For the ACC U-19 Elite Cup, Nepal is placed along with Thailand, Oman, UAE and Singapore in Group A. The event begins on August 20. The Youth World Cup is scheduled for 2008 in Malaysia for which 14 teams – 10 Test nations, Ireland, Papua New Guinea and Malaysia – have already qualified.