What do you expect Nepali Cricket Team to carry when it is traveling to New Delhi, as a part of its preparation for ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier? Memento for the hosts? Yes, Team Nepal will carry that. Cricket Association of Nepal has prepared that. Just that it forgot to get team jersey for all the players.
This perhaps sums up the preparation of Nepali team, for the World Cup qualifier, so far. There is a feeling among players that the cricket association has taken the entire preparation very lightly, although they do not want to go on record to tell you this. This is the biggest stage Nepali cricketers have ever played. Out of 16 association ICC members that play in this tournament, two will qualify for the ICC T20 World Cup. Statistically speaking, Nepal has a possibility to play along the elites of the game.
Asked about whom Team Nepal plays in Delhi, skipper Paras Khadka says, “I have no idea. I hope good players turn up against us, making us compete.” This is another worry, not even captain knowing whom the team is playing against. Makes you feel for the cricketers, who perhaps traveled more than many trekkers who visit Nepal during this season. They’ve actually spend around a fortnight on the road (sometimes on the railroads) in last month and a half. The amount of traveling and matches they’ve played in recent days is likely to have effect on their physical strength.
Paras Khadka minces no words when asked about the preparation. “Preparation has been bad, to be honest,’ he says, adding “We haven’t trained for a single day, after the final squad of 14 was picked for the qualifiers. The preparation hasn’t been what it should be.”
Since the start of February, the members of this team has traveled to Mumbai, played in Indian Ambassador’s Cup in Kathmandu and played in the National Games for their regional teams. That is a lot of matches in just over a month’s time. It is likely that the strength level of players have gone down and fitness suffered.
Apparently, the team captain was not consulted, but was informed about Indian Ambassador’s Cup, that was played in the second half of February. This wasn’t a part of preparation schedule that Coach Pubudu Dassanayake had submitted and was agreed upon by Cricket Association of Nepal. Thereafter there was the National Games, played on matting wickets. If you ask the players about their experience on mats, they do not say much. The timing definitely has not been perfect for all these matches.
But then, not everything has been bad about all these matches. “Players were able to play in a match situation. They were able to build innings, which is a positive,” says Khadka. “They were not trying to hit every ball for six, which is an improvement.”
Pubudu Dassanayake confirms, “They were able to adjust to match situation, which is a plus. However, we haven’t had much time to review how much our preparation has been effective.”
Some players say Coach’s plan hasn’t been implemented much. Some go to the extent of saying that CAN merely agreed to the plans but never gave an opportunity to execute them. Some are happy with the mental side of preparation.
“There is certain kind of toughness in the players now. This is the change that I’ve felt,” says Sanjam Regmi, the offspinner, and the mainstay of the team. Khadka agrees, “There has been an improvement in the players. I, myself have felt that my performance has improved by 20 percent.” The matches against teams in Mumbai have also given an opportunity to the players to understand their roles. They now know what is expected of them. Sharad Veswakar, who was looked out of sorts during ACC T20 Cup has found runs flowing with his bat, scored two hundreds at Chris Gayle like speed and audacity. Paresh Lohani, who has just made a comeback in the national side, has runs under his belt and is likely to first choice opener. Another comeback kid, Shakti Gauchan looks in control with his left-arm spin. In fact, for captain and coach, it would be a tough choice on whom to leave out, while selecting the playing XI.
However, question still lingers on the timing of the domestic matches if playing on mat and uneven outfield will prove any good in UAE.
“Given the choice, I would not have played the National Games, as it took away time from our training” says Paras. “But I don’t decide on that. We had obligation to play and I am happy that at least we had some match practice.
Team Nepal goes to Delhi for more practice. Cricket fans can only hope the quality of opposition is good and our boys play to win.