[Updated with annual calendar] Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) passed the annual program and budget in an executive committee meeting on Wednesday, the association said in a press release.
CAN also added that Varun Beverage, the producer of Pepsi soft drinks in Nepal, and Standard Chartered Bank will sponsor the senior national team and event this year. Last year, Springwood brand of Surya Nepal was the main sponsor of the event.
“Since Springwood failed to abide by the agreement, we decided in Pepsi’s favor for the sponsorship,” CAN president Binaya Raj Pandey said.
CAN is also looking for a sponsor of U-16 national league to be held from this year after Asian Cricket Council (ACC) scrapped U-15 and U-17 events in favor of U-16.
The association will organize one-day and Twenty20 national leagues along with U-19, and U-16 national leagues this year for men and senior, U-19 and U-16 national leagues for women.
“The U-16 boys and girls national cricket championship will be held as inter-school event in co-ordination with Youth and Sports Ministry,” the release added.
Nepal will host ICC World Cricket League Division 5 from February 20 to 27 in 2010 and ACC U-16 Elite Cup from March 8 to 18 in 2010. “The Div 5 is the first ICC event to be held in Nepal,” it added.
According to the annual calendar, Nepal will participate in the ACC Twenty20 Elite Cup (Nov 20-30, 2009), South Asian Games (Jan 29 – Feb 9, 2010 in UAE), ACC Trophy Elite Cup (April 21-30, 2010 in Kuwait).
Meanwhile, Nepal will play practice matches with Delhi District Cricket Association (DDCA) from November 15 to 20 in Delhi to prepare for the ACC Twenty20.
CAN meeting passed the annual budget of Rs. 68,213,244 among which Rs 32,400,000 will be invested for the infrastructure development. Rs. 19,683,190 is expected to be expenses of the national leagues, sports equipment purchase and administrative costs while the remaining Rs. 16,130,054 will be spent for international participation and event hosting.
CAN has requested for Rs. 15,112,500 for infrastructure development with ACC; Rs. 4,598,000 for the ICC World Cricket League Division 5 with Nepal Government and Rs. 3,300,000 for participation in SAG with National Sports Council.
“If these budget requirements are made available, it would be incorporated in the annual budget,” CAN said.
Annual Calendar for the Year 2066/067
ACC Twenty20 Elite Cup
1. Delhi Practice Tour November 15–20, 2009
2. ACC Twenty20 Elite Cup, U.A.E. November 20 – 30, 2009
Inter-School U-16 Boys/Girls (Ministry of Youth & Sports Program)
District Level (Boys) October 18 – November 15, 2009
District Level (Girls) November 16 – December 15, 2009
National Level (Boys/Girls) TBC
U-16 National Tournament (CAN’s Programme)
Regional Level January 1-15, 2010
National Level February 1-10, 2010
ACC U-16 Elite Cup
U-16 Close Camp February 12 – March 5, 2010
ACC U-16 Elite Cup 2010, Nepal March 8 – 18, 2010
South Asian Games
SAG Closed Camp December 20 – January 18, 2009
SAG Practice, Bangladesh January 19 – 28, 2010
SAG, Bangladesh January 29 – February 8, 2010
ICC World Cricket League Division 5
Regional Camp January 1 – 10, 2010
National Camp January 15 – February 10, 2010
Sri Lanka Team Tour to Nepal February 11 – 19, 2010
ICC WCL Div 5, Nepal February 20 – 27, 2010
ACC Trophy Elite Cup
Closed Camp March 21 – April 20, 2010
ACC Trophy Elite Cup April 21-30, 2010
ACC U-19 Women’s Cricket Tournament September 22-30, 2010)
DATES NOT CONFIRMED YET
– Senior National (one-day)
– Senior National (Twenty20)
– Women’s National
– Wai Wai U-19 National
– PCB Tour to Nepal