An MCC squad has set out for Kathmandu for a two-week tour during which they will play five games and hold three coaching sessions with local cricketers, an MCC release on Wednesday stated.
The party includes former England spinner Min Patel, former Sussex and Glamorgan all-rounder Keith Newell, and former Somerset stalwart Keith Parsons.
MCC, which have toured Nepal once before in 2003, are hoping to contribute Nepal in their preparation for the Asian Cricket Council’s Twenty20 Cup (November 2009) which is the qualifier for the 2010 Asian Games competition.
“MCC will contribute to the development of the game in Nepal by running coaching sessions,” the release said. “MCC will be coaching the national Under-15s and Under-17s sides on March 23 and 24.”
MCC will also take on combined teams of those cricketers in 50-over games on March 20 and 21.
MCC will leave a grant of $2500 (approx. NRs 200,000) and the ICC will donate $1250 (approx. NRs 100,00) to develop facilities and coaching programs in the country, the release said.
Meanwhile, talking to Asian Cricket Council (ACC), Nepal’s coach Roy Dias said the MCC tour would benefit Nepal in the preparation of upcoming events. “These games will benefit my players and raise their fitness levels. Fitness is very important but we also badly need the match practice now,” Dias was quoted.
“I’m hoping the U-17s and U-19s will get the chance to play at least one 50-over game. There’s added pressure on the U-19s as they are ACC U-19 Elite defending champions and all other teams will be just looking to beat us in the upcoming tournament,” he said. “Nepal has a great passion for sport and with the home support at the games it should be a good few days of cricket”.
CAN president Binaya Raj Pandey expressed happiness over the tour. “The MCC had previously made a visit to Nepal in 2004 and it is nice to host them again,” Pandey told ACC. “They have been touring and playing non-Test teams for a long time and we are grateful for this as it helps provide us with exposure to a higher level of cricket.”
MCC Squad: M M Patel (captain), M G Walker, N Patel, J M Evans, N C Jones, I Flecther, K Newell, K Parsons, J M Finch, M A P Dale, P J King, G G Read, L J O’Reilly, C Meggennis (umpire), R Arnold (scorer) and Lt Col A T P Lerwill (manager).
Photo by MCC