Nepal’s captain Paras Khadka believed his team will come up with flying colors in the ACC Twenty20 Cup that starting on the day of Fagu Purnima, the festival of colors.
“We have prepared best and we are at very high level of confidence,” Paras said. “We want to start in the winning note and continue winning.”
Nepal is playing Maldives, a team that had never defeated Nepal in any form and level, on Wednesday at the TU Cricket Ground.
In the only T20 cricket played between the teams, Nepal defeated Maldives by 75 runs in the Asian Games, Gongzhou.
“Strength is adaptation”
When asked about strength of Nepali team, Paras said: “adaptiveness”.
“Our training in Pokhara was good, we trained in different condition but we adapted quirky,” Paras said. “Our adaptiveness to situation of the game and condition is our strength.”
He also said that the team would need to display best in all departments – batting, bowling and fielding.
“I am confident that we will give our best,” he said.
Pitch at TU is ready! Photo by Bikash Karki
A request to spectators
[pullquote]We will give hundred percent commitment: Paras Khadka[/pullquote]Paras also expected that the home support would help them but requested the fans not to create trouble.
“Please do not create trouble, because if there is trouble this time, I don’t think we will be chosen hosts for next two or three years,” he said.
“Win and loss is part of the game,” he added. “We will give hundred percent commitment, and since Twenty20 brings unexpected results and situation, I request all to accept it and enjoy the cricket.”
Two Sri Lankan coaches
Both Nepal and Maldives are coached by Sri Lankans. In the tournament, four teams, others being Malaysia (coached by Roy Dias) and Oman (Duleep Mendis) are coached by Sri Lankans.
Nepal’s coach Pubudu Dassanayake said he wanted to start well. “Whatever the level we play, we want to start well, want to have good first game, so that we can go with confidence in the game.”
He also added that the team is ‘very confident’. “They are also clear about their roles,” he said.
A seamer, 3 spinners
Pubudu also said that Nepal would possibly play with only one seamer. “We will probably go with one seamer and three spinners,” he said.
Amrit Bhattarai and Chandra Saud are specialist seamers in the squad. Pradeep Airee and Manjeet Shrestha are are allrounders who can bowl fast. Paras can also bowl seam.
Spin department will be in the hands of Sanjam Regmi, Shakti Gauchan, Basant Regmi and Prihtu Baskota. The later three are good batsman too. Anil Mandal is a useful bowler too.
Maldives: a young team
[pullquote]I hope to win the match as we have good team: Maldives coach[/pullquote]Maldives’ coach Nilantha Cooray said his team is young but was confident of good display after a good training round.
Since he took over the job a month ago, he has worked hard with the team and had a three-week training session.
“I hope to win the match as we have good team with lots of juniors,” Cooray said. “I know, Nepal is strong team with spinners.”
Maldives also went to Sri Lanka for a weeklong training before coming to Nepal.
Tickets for the first time
The entry to the ground will not be free, Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) said. It will cost Rs. 100 for a day of cricket at TU Cricket Ground.
Nepal’s match against Maldives starts at 9:15 am after an inauguration.