Nepal grabbed two awards at the inaugural Asian Cricket Council awards in a glittering function in Karachni, Pakistan on Saturday evening. Paras Khadka, who captained U-19 team in the ACC U-19 Elite Cup and Youth World Cup, and Nary Thapa, woman team’s captain, received awards as emerging Asian players.
Paras won the Best Emerging Asian Cricketer of the Year while Nary received the Best Emerging Asian Woman Cricketer of the Year. The two awards were only awards for the associate nations.
Nary had led Nepal’s woman team to the final of the ACC Women’s Tournament in Malaysia where she was also adjudged bowler of the tournament. Nepal defeated China, Hong Kong, Thailand and tied Malaysia before losing the final to Bangladesh.
Paras led Nepali U-19 team to the victory in the ACC U-19 Elite Cup to qualify for the Youth World Cup for the fifth time in a row. In the event, Nepal lost plate final to West Indies but Paras was in contention for the Player of the Tournament award until the last match.
Nary received the award at Karachi where he went on special invitation of ACC whereas Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) president Binay Raj Pandey received award on behalf of Paras.
Paras and Nary won the awards in which Sri Lankan players dominated the major awards. Kumar Sangakarra won the Best Asian Test Batsman while Muttiah Muralitharan and Farveez Maharoof won the Best Asian Test and ODI Bowler respectively.
India’s Sachin Tendulkar and Mithali Raj completed the awardees’ lineup by winning Best Asian ODI Cricketer and Best Asian Woman Cricketer. Pakistan’s Aleem Dar was adjudged Best Asian Umpire.
Akram Khan (Bangladeh), Sunil Gavaskar (India), Imran Khan (Pakistan), Arjuna Ranatunga (Sri Lanka) were felicitated with the Silver Jubilee Legends award while Syed Ashraful Huq (Bangladesh), I.S.Bindra (India), Nur Khan (Pakistan), Gamini Dissanayake (Sri Lanka) and Abdulrahman Bukhatir (UAE) received lifetime achievement awards for administrators.
Photo Courtesy: Cricket Association of Nepal