Sri Lanka’s first captain in Test and ODIs, Bandula Warnapura, also Asian Cricket Council’s (ACC) Development Manager, is in Nepal to visit cricket facilities of the country. Warnapura, 56, is responsible for development of cricket in Asian region. In his second visit to Nepal, first one during ACC U-17 Elite Cup, he accompanied Andre Faichy, the International Cricket Council (ICC) event manager, who was here to assess the facilities for the ICC World Cricket League Division V event to be held in January 2010. In an interview with Cricket.com.np, Warnapura talked in length about cricket in Nepal. Excerpts:
As the ACC Development Manager, what are your impressions about cricket in Nepal?
There is no problem in regard to junior cricket, but there is certain amount of blockade from junior to senior cricket. This problem boils down to a couple of areas. One is the facilities that Nepal has – good high class grounds, pitches, indoor/outdoor practice facilities.
There is a huge gap from under-19 level and senior. U-19 have tournaments and then after only seniors. There should be under-22/23 tournament. I am happy to note that South Asian Games cricket will be U-21 and Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is also looking for something for U-23. ACC is working programs with CAN to develop basic facilities in various regions like in Birgunj and Bhairahawa.
What things you think Nepal needs to improve on?
There is enough land to develop cricket facilities. With ICC fund coming in from 2009, we want to have professional CAN with permanent CEO, accountant, national coach and development manager which is compulsory according to ICC funding policy. Once these positions are filled, and with ICC fund, I believe that new facilities could be developed and cricket will grow. But there need to right person – no nepotism appointment.
About players, they are not mentally strong enough in senior level. When they play in Nepal in front of 10,000 supporters, they are strong but they need to learn to play strongly when 10,000 people against them; that’s in important factor.
How can players’ be made mentally strong ?
There should be better understanding with India because the Nepali players do not need visa or something like that to go to India.CAN is working out on proposals on that and I am sure that they will do some ties.
There is need of longer version of cricket – three/four-day cricket. Nepal is good at shorter version of game but they need to play longer cricket to improve skills, temperament and mental strength.
A Nepali player only gets 4 or 5 matches a year in domestic cricket. What’s your view on our domestic cricket ?
That’s not enough. They need to get at least 9 to 12 days of cricket per tournament. CAN has to change the structure. That’s the base to develop cricket skills – batting, bowling and fielding. With ICC funding coming, we have gone through the shortcomings of Nepal’s cricket and working on ways to improve on them.
They need to put on professional level domestic structure in 2009 to get the ICC money. If they do not put that, I will not be recommending ICC to give Nepal any money.
What do you say about CAN ?
We must be thankful to CAN for their voluntary works on their own for the game of cricket. But unfortunately, they are working guys and they can not involve in CAN full time; we would like to see people doing this for ages without any payment or arrangement continuing their support. But professional things need to be handled by professionals as Nepal is moving from a friendly cricket playing nation to a serious nation. That’s also because the ICC funds will depend on Nepal’s ranking which can only be higher when seniors play well.
There was no Asian nation in the last/next World Cup. That must be embarrassing thing for ACC, wasn’t it?
Yes. We had three nations in qualifiers for next World Cup – UAE, Oman and Afghanistan. We helped them with all possible support. The whole idea is we have to develop players. For Ireland, most of their players are playing in England in counties; likewise Afghanistan does well as they play in Pakistan. Without support of Test nations, it’s difficult for Associate nations to qualify. The other concern is expatriate players – they play two years and go.
So, we want ethnic locals to play cricket otherwise ACC money is spent for what – on Pakistanis and Indians; that’s not good.