The executive committee of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has completed a year on Saturday, September 29.
The reconstitution of CAN on the eve of Vijaya Dashami last year was welcomed by all quarters as the earlier committee had failed in many areas, most notably in international co-ordination, largely due to internal conflict and alleged corruption. National Sports Council (NSC) was under pressure to dissolve the earlier committee as the nation was going through democratic changes and everything related to Royal Regime was being thrown out.
NSC appointed a 19-member committee under Binaya Raj Pandey. The expectation was high as those who were critical to the earlier committee were included in the New CAN.
Although New CAN was supported by the international achievements, the New CAN still has to do a lot more to meet the expectations.
“We are moving forward with long-term plans that are not visible instantly,†CAN member and former national captain Pawan Agrawal says. Agrawal is one among three former captains in the committee – the other two being Uttam Karmacharya and LB Chhetri.
After the national team packed up the kits on November 26 on conclusion of the three-day match against Malaysia, they have not played yet. There has been no preparation yet for the ACC Twenty20 Cup scheduled next month. Also knocking on the doors is the World Cup Qualifying Division V.
The New CAN should not only prioritize the U-19, in which Nepal has already proved to be among the best in the world, and World Cup qualifying but also give equal importance to all the events. Moreover, the Twenty20 cricket can attract corporate houses.
Under the New CAN, Nepali national team won the ACC Fast Track Countries Championship three-day event defeating Singapore and Malaysia despite losing to UAE at Sharjah. The trophy is also the first major event the senior team has won, but CAN didn’t even remember to honor the team or award them.
The success of women cricket was a big leap. First ACC then ICC awarded Region No 5 Nepalgunj the Development Award for Best Initiative Women’s Cricket. Encouraged by the Regional and Global Award, CAN organized the first national event for the women participated by four regions.
Standard-wise, the women’s national held nothing more than a school-level cricket, but the initiation to establish it was an laud-worthy attempt that helped in making of the national team, who did the nation proud by reaching the final of the inaugural ACC Women’s Cup in Malaysia.
It was not only a surprising result but also a proof that if given opportunities and groomed properly, women’s cricket can do equally well.
The U-19 national team too continued achievements continuing domination in the ACC U-19 by winning it fourth time and qualifying to the Youth World Cup to be held in Malaysia next year.
Except in women’s cricket, all other teams got sponsors with the total sponsorship money amounting to Rs. 6.3 millions. Surya Nepal and Standard Chartered sponsored Rs. 4 million annually for national team and senior national event while Wai Wai continued Rs 800 thousands sponsorship to U-19 team. Pepsi got associated with U-15 for 1.2 million while John Players sponsored three-day matches with Rs. 300 thousands.
But the sponsorship didn’t bring much change for the players in domestic events. Almost all domestic events concluded as usual and the allowance for players didn’t increase from Rs 200 a day – something that hasn’t changed for a decade now.
National events were held on knock-out basis, a system that was criticized as nothing else in previous years. Though the New CAN got an excuse of Tarai Uprising, the movement in sourthern part of the country that kept cities closed for more than a month, the unchanged format was indigestible for many.
The beginning of the two-day nationals will certainly help to improve cricket in future but also required for the improvements are proper grounds and trained manpower in the regions.
Among all the challenges, the biggest for the New CAN is the holding of the election for the first time in its six-decade long history.
Evaluating the Year
Positive Points
- Success in international events
- Highest ever sponsorships in cricket
- Re-establishment of international image
- Nomination for the World Cup Qualifying League Division V
- Selection of ICC’s Business Improvement Program along with Canada and Kenya
- ACC Regional and ICC Global Development Award for the Best Initiatives of Women’s Cricket
- Beginning of women’s national event
- Beginning of two-day national event
- Commitment to build a national academy at Mulpani
Negative Points
- Continuation of knock-out system in national events
- Continuation of decade-old allowance system for players despite good sponsorship
- Lack of initiative to turn domestic events into professional events
- Lack of preparation for the strong national team
- Not much progress in the construction of national academy at Mulpani
- Lack of initiative to hold elections
(Binod Pandey is the contributing editor of NepalCricket.com and writes for Nepal Samacharpatra daily.)