Nepali cricket is always surrounded by problems before participating in International tournaments. Nepal had lots of plans even before participating in ICC U-19 World Cup and World Cricket League Division 4 tournaments, but lack of training due to rainy field in the mid monsoon season, and national cricket championship not being organized are the main problems this time around.
The U-19 players in the close camp were unable to practice due to continuous rain. Pitch at the TU Cricket Ground is under covers, while the rest part of the ground is completely water logged. Nepali team spent most of its time inside the gym. The time ran out fast for the players for the ICC Under-19 World Cup to be held in Australia from August 11.
“I don’t complain much in this regard, we are practicing as much we can, though it would be great if the ground was dry. It doesn’t mean our preparation is zero” said Nepal coach Pubhudu Dassaynayake. He further added, “We wanted to prepare superbly, if the situation was normal, we would have practiced in the net, but we are working on mental strength”. The plans to go to Sri Lanka before Australian tour had to be abandoned as Visa application needed three weeks time. Nepali U-19 team is going to Australia 8 days before tournament. Sri Lanka born Canadian coach Dassanayake said “We will play 2 practice matches with a local club in Darwin and practice for 5 days to acclimatize there. International cricket Council (ICC) will bear the cost.”
Coach Director Ross Turner managed these matches for Nepal. Turner is the one who has worked as ICC Development Officer and worked with Australian team. He was responsible for designing the architecture for Cricket Academy in Mulpani, Kathmandu.
After playing with local club in Darwin, Nepal will play two practice matches, first with Papua New Guinea on 7th August and another with New Zealand on 8th August, provided under ICC’s preparation matches. In the U-19 World Cup, Nepal is placed with host Australia, England and Ireland. Nepal will play its first match against Australia on 13th August then play against Ireland on 15th and final group match against England on 16th August.
For the first time since 1996, Nepal will participate in an International tournament without playing national championship. It’s been 14 months since national championship was held. Players for both U-19 World Cup and ICC World Division 4 have been chosen on the basis of players’ performance in the 6th National Games, in Dhangadhi. The matches in the National Games were played on matting wickets, where teams of development regions (administrative) took part, rather than cricket’s own 6 regions.
In the meantime, World Cricket League Division 4, which is the only gateway for Nepal to qualify for ICC World Cup 2015, is scheduled for September in Malaysia.
“We can’t select players in the national side on the basis of player’s performance in Under-19 World Cup, that’s why we selected players on their performance in Under-19 Asia Cup”, coach Dassanayake clarified. He further added, “it’s good practice to select players from national tournament and coach them, but we don’t have any choice now, that’s why we need to select players in the basis of performance at World T20 qualifier held in Dubai, Indian Embassy Cup held in Kathmandu and 6th National Games held in Dhangadhi.”
“I wanted to see Mahesh Chhetri in 50 overs, before selecting him. I could have judged him properly if nationals were held. He didn’t play in 6th national Games and Indian Embassy Cup. Not only Mahesh, I would have got the opportunity to watch other players too”, said Dassanayake.
Coach Dassanayake also has plans to send batsmen Anil Mandal, Sharad Veshwakar and Gyanendra Malla to any Indian Academy for short term, as they have been out of practice recently. Skipper Parash Khadka, who is playing club cricket in Canada will be back in Nepal in the second week of August.
Dassanayake is little worried in bowling department which has Basanta Regmi and Shakti Gauchan. He added “Batting is our main concern, that’s why we are planning to send our main batsmen to India, then our national team will go to Sri Lanka for two weeks. Players selected from U-19 team may directly come to Sri Lanka to join the team or be back to Nepal and then to Sri Lanka. Then only we go to Malaysia for Division 4 tournament.”