Cricketers withdrew their boycott after talks with Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) as both parties agree to form a seven-member committee to strengthen relations between them.
The players will now compete in the Pepsi Twenty20 National League, beginning on May 30 – a day late than scheduled. “CAN expressed commitments towards our demands,” captain Paras Khadka told Cricket Nepal. “We will play in the national leagues.”
On May 28, the players in the closed-camp training for the World Cricket League Division IV suddenly announced that they were boycotting the national leagues protesting the CAN management.
An emergency meeting of CAN on May 28 evening decided to postpone the T20 league by a day to give teams time to get the alternative players and authorized CAN member Thakur Pratap Thapa – also the manager of the current team – to talk to players.
Thapa and players held talks on May 29 morning where both parties agreed that there had been mistakes from both sides. Khadka later talked to CAN president Binay Raj Pandey over phone where Pandey asked players to play the national leagues and promised to ‘take the demands seriously.’
“We agreed to form a seven-member committee including three players, three CAN officials and a coach which will bridge the gap between board and players,” Khadka said.
According to Khadka, the committee will be a platform for players and coaches to raise their concerns and also advise board on various development issues including facilities to players and sponsorship.
Pandey also promised to see into the daily allowances of players for the national leagues – which according to Khadka is not enough for players from outside Kathmandu.
The Pepsi Men’s T20 National League Cricket Tournament begins on May 30 with Region No 1 Biratnagar plays Region No 5 Nepalgunj in the inaugural match while Region No 2 Birgunj takes on Region No 3 Kathmandu in the day’s second match at IOE Ground, Pulchowk.
CAN president Pandey will inaugurate the event.