Indian Premier League (IPL) team Rajasthan Royals called up Nepali spinner Shakti Gauchan for trial on Wednesday.
Gauchan will fly to the Indian city of Nagpur on Thursday. Rajasthan Royals, looked after by Australian spin great Shane Warne as mentor, has been busy in its last training camp before the IPL in Nagpur.
“Our national team coach Pubudu Dassanayake took the initiative and after several correspondences with the Rajasthan Royals officials, he asked me to go Nagpur,” said Gauchan.
Coach Dassanayake has sent an email to Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) General Secretary Ashok Nath Pyakurel informing about the opportunity given to Gauchan.
“This could be a great experience for Shakti (Gauchan),” Dassanayake wrote to Pyakurel.
CAN will bear all the travel expenses while Rajasthan Royals will make accommodation arrangements for Gauchan during the trial period.
According to Gauchan, Rajasthan Royals Assistant Manager Romi Bhinder has informed Dassanayake that the team will try to accommodate the Nepali spinner.
“This is a happy moment for me. It is a great opportunity for me and I’ll give everything to get into the team,” said Gauchan. “All this has become possible because of the initiative taken by Pubudu sir (Dassanayake),” he added.
“At first I could not believe it but I was forced to believe it after ICC media Officer Lucy Benjamin congratulated me on a phone call,” said Shakti
Meanwhile, Nepali Captain Paras Khadka described it as a great opportunity for a Nepali player. “It is a great opportunity for a Nepali player. We, teammates, are just keeping our fingers crossed for his success. Trial, itself, is an opportunity,” he added.
The famous cricket website ESPNcricinfo has nominated Gauchan, along with captain Khadka, in its list of the best XI of the World T20 Qualifiers that recently concluded in the UAE.
Gauchan had claimed 16 wickets during the tournament. Cricinfo has described Gauchan as the chief exponent of Nepali bowling attack.