Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has extended the contract of coach Pubudu Dassanayake for a year.
“Dassanayake’s contract has been extended by a year,” CAN member Diwakar Ghale said. Ghale was also the manager of the team during the World Twenty20 Cup qualifiers in UAE where Nepal finished impressive seventh. Continue reading
“Nepal belongs to Division One or Two,” proclaimed cricket skipper Paras Khadka emerging out of the Tribhuvan International Airport.
Nepal, which is currently in the Division Four of the World Cricket League (WCL), finished seventh in the ICC Twenty20 Cup qualifiers in UAE ensuring global ranking of 17. Continue reading
Bangladesh ‘almost’ became the Asian Champions in Cricket. One stroke and they could have been the winners of the Asia Cup. Despite loss in the title match, Bangladesh cricket now stands a few inches taller than it was, just before the championship arrived.
Bangladesh may not have won the title, but this championship showed that this team, always considered as the ‘also ran’, has finally evolved into a formidable team that is capable of defeating bigger and supposedly stronger teams.
While the Asian Test nations were gunning for Asian glory, the real minnows of cricket – the associate nations – were playing ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers, for the two spots of Twenty20 World Cup, which will be played in September this year. Nepal was among the nations trying to capture those two spots. Just that the team could not travel that far.
However, if you were observing pre-tournament preparation closely, you could have heard murmurs of the cricketers saying preparation had been done with one idea – that Nepal was not going to qualify for the World Twently20. Even captain Paras Khadka had expressed disappointments about the preparations. There could be some logic in thinking that we would not qualify. After all, we were the lowest ranked team in the championship. Every other team was considered better than us.
But then we played for the 7th spot. From 16th to 7 is a climb worth celebrating. Not many teams manage it in one championship. We were able to beat at least two teams – in Bermuda and Kenya – that had World Cup experience. Those two wins alone should be considered a slap for the administrators who made this team play on a matting wicket and travel for weeks, just prior to the biggest ever championship Nepal had to play in. For that Nepali cricket team deserves a pat on the back. For, they were able to restore pride in our cricket.
Nepali cricket team may not have become world beaters in a fortnight, but like Bangladesh, this team showed that it can come of age, when right amount of energy is put into it. Like Bangladesh, the cricket talent in this country is not questionable. Like Bangladesh, we also have been tagged minnows. But unlike Bangladesh, we see that the cricket administrators here do not show enough faith in their team, in their players.
For, there have been times when experts called for revoking Bangladesh’s Test status. But that hardly deterred the administrators there. In recent times, they started Bangladesh Premier League – in line with Indian Premier League – where its own players could rub shoulders with international players and gain valuable match experience. The result is for everyone to see. It is faith that has turned around Bangladesh cricket, and there is no reason to believe such can happen in Nepal.
Last time when Nepal was as close qualifying for Cricket World Cup was in 2001, when it was playing ICC Trophy. Then experts said that a huge gap existed between the associate nations and teams with ODI status. Before that tournament began, Namibia – an ICC associate member since 1992 – went on a tour to England, as a preparation. The 5-6 week long preparation tour made them strong enough to become the finalists and eventually they played in World Cup 2003.
This goes on to show that, with proper preparation, things once considered ‘unachievable’ can be achieved. The administrators have responsibility to think beyond what is already at hand.
The performance of Nepali side at ICC World Twenty20 should be taken as a platform. It is for the management to think if the team could perform this much with limited preparation, what they could achieve with proper plans in place. A proper calendar needs to be made, making sure the cricketers are engaged in the game throughout the year. If we can’t send national side, we can send our regional sides to play in local tournaments across the border. It should be noted that Sri Lankan side used to play in local tournaments held in Tamilnadu of India before they achieved Test status. We know, they’re one of the top teams in the world now.
It is time, our cricket comes of age. Bangladesh has given us enough reasons to think why we should dream bigger.
(Ed: The write-up appeared in Somesh Verma’s weekly sports column – OFFSIDE – in The Kathmandu Post, on 24th March,2012)
Nepal finished seventh in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers as Captain Paras Khadka and Prithu Baskota put up a 75-run partnership for the fifth wicket partnership to topple Papua New Guinea (PNG) by six wickets in the seventh place play off on Friday.
Winning the toss, PNG elected to bat at theICC Global Cricket Academy ground in Dubai and put up 129/5. Nepal met the target losing only four wickets with a ball remaining.
PNG had defeated Nepal by 35 runs in a crucial group stage match on March 15 to hamper Nepal’s preliminary final qualification. Friday’s victory completed Nepal’s revenge over PNG.
After the win, Nepal can enjoy the 17th rank in the ICC T20 ranking for next two years.
Chasing the 130-run target, Nepali openers Anil Mandal and Pradeep Airee put up 24-run opening stand. Airee was run out after scoring 18 runs off 11 balls. Gyanendra Malla added just a run and Mandal departed scoring only nine runs. Sharad Vesawkar departed in 10.4 overs scoring only 12 runs of 16 balls to leave Nepal at 58/4.
Nepali captain Paras Khadka (R) and Prithu Baskota pose for a photograph after guiding Nepal to a 6-wicket victory over PNG on March 23 in the seventh place play-off of the ICC World T20 Qualifiers 2012, UAE. Photo: ICC
However, skipper Khadka not only anchored the Nepali innings but also played a blistering innings of 62 runs off 43 balls. Prithu Baskota well supported skipper by adding 26 runs off 25 balls to take Nepal to 133/4 in 19.5 overs. Khadka struck six boundaries and a six while Baskota hit three boundaries.
Joel Tom, Hitolo Areni and Chris Amini took a wicket each for PNG.
Earlier, Vani Morea top scored in the PNG innings with unbeaten 34 runs to put up a fighting total. Tony Ura (21 runs off 21 balls) and Christopher Kent (22 runs off 32 balls) were other major contributors for PNG.
Shakti Gauchan took two wickets while Chandra Sawad, Basanta Regmi and Paras Khadka claimed a wicket each.
Region No 4, Bhairahawa and Region No 6, Baitadi started the U-16 National Cricket Tournament on winning notes on Friday.
Bhairahawa overcame Region No 1 Biratnagar by three wickets while Baitadi defeated Region No 3 Kathmandu by 12 runs.
In the match played at the Engineering Ground Pulchowk, Shankar Rana’s unbeaten 70 runs helped Bhairahawa chase the total of 166 runs in 29.1 overs. Winning the toss Biratnagar opted to bat first and scored 165 runs losing all the wickets in 34.1 overs. Mayanand Chaudhary’s 36 runs was the highest contribution for Biratnagar while Bhairahawa gave away 39 runs as extras.
In another match played at TU ground Kirtipur, Baitadi won the toss and posted the huge total of 210 runs losing all the wickets in 35.5 overs. Bhim Sarki was the star of the match as he scored 57 runs off 48 balls with nine boundaries. Manoj Chand scored quick fire 22 runs off 12 balls with a boundary and two sixes.
Dipesh Poudel and Pranil Karki grabbed three wickets each.
Chasing the total of 211 runs, Kathmandu started well as they shared 82-run partnership for the first wicket. Opener Jeevan Lamsal (43) was the first batsman lost by Kathmandu. Mohammad Shaid and Adil Khan shared 58-run partnership for the second wicket.
With the fall of Adil Khan in the 28th over, Kathmandu continued to lose wickets in regular intervals. Khan scored 60 runs off 69 balls. Kathmandu managed to score 198 runs losing nine wickets in 40 overs.
Man-of-the-match Bhim Sarki and Dipendra Chand grabbed three wickets each.
Welcome
Nepal take on Papua New Guinea today in the seventh-place play-off of the ICC World T20 Qualifiers. We’ll give live updates of the match.
The seventh place play-off could be a chance for Nepal to avenge Papua New Guinea, who had defeated Nepal by 35 runs in group stage match of the ICC World T20 Qualifiers.
Nepal achieved a laudable five-wicket victory over Kenya in the World Twenty20 Cup qualifiers at GCA, Dubai to set the seventh-place playoff clash with Papua New Guinea (PNG).
Nepal defeated Kenya, an One-Day International (ODI) nation, by 5 wickets with two balls remaining. Continue reading
Kantipur City College (KCC) lifted the title of the Martyr’s Dil Bahadur Ramtel Running Cricket Tournament on Wednesday with three wickets victory over defending champion Balkumari College.
In the final played at the TU ground, Kirtipur, Balkumari, batting first, scored 129 runs for the loss of three wickets. KCC reached the target in 19.2 overs losing seven wickets. With the win, KCC bagged Rs 50,000 while Balkumari pursed Rs 30,000.
Mehboob Alam will renew his rivalry with Collins Obuya while Prithu Baskota, Pradeep Airee and Krishna Karki could get chance to lock horns with known opponents Rakep Patel and Duncan Allan as Nepal take on Kenya for the seventh place play-off semifinal of the ICC World T20 Qualifiers on Thursday.
Nepali national team has never met Kenya’s national team before. However U-19 teams had played twice against each other and Nepal had won both matches.
In 2000, Nepali team defeated Kenya by 14 runs in the U-19 World Cup to become the only associate country to reach second round of the Youth World Cup. Alam was man-of-the-match then and had bowled Collins Obuya in the match. Alam and Obuya are in their respective national squad now and the play-off semifinal could give them the opportunity to renew rivalry.
Nepal defeated Kenya by six wickets in the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers held in Ireland last July. Current national team players Baskota, Airee and Karki were the important members of the Nepali U-19 squad. Baskota had scored unbeaten 31 runs and took a wicket then while Airee was unbeaten with 12 runs. Karki had taken three wickets in the match. Kenya’s current squad members Patel and Allan were also in their U-19 team then. Allan had taken all four Nepali wickets in the match.
Nepal finished fifth in the group ‘A’ of the ICC World T20 Qualifiers being held in the UAE while Kenya remained in the fourth position of the group ‘B’.
Kenya proved to be unlucky in the ongoing tournament as they finished behind Scotland by the smallest margins of +0.007 on the net run-rate and missed the preliminary final for the World Cup qualification.
Kenya, the semifinalists of the 2003 World Cup in South Africa, have been enjoying ODI status since 2009.
“The match against Kenya is an important one as it determines our ranking in the T20. We are ready to face them but we’ll decide our playing-set at the last moment,” said Diwakar Ghale, manager of the Nepali national team.
“There could be some changes in the team. Mehboob Alam was dropped against Canada but he could return in the playing-set on Thursday. Paresh Lohani has picked an ankle-injury and there is less possibility for him to play against Kenya,” he added.
If Nepal win the match against Kenya, they will take on the winners between Italy and Papua New Guinea (PNG) on Friday in the seventh place play-off. If Nepal lose the match against Kenya, they will take on the loser between Italy and PNG on Friday in the ninth place play-off.
By Janak Raj Bhatta
Two incidents, with a huge roar and significance happened to the Nepali Cricket scene last week or so, which I feel shows our value for cricket.
These two incidents may or may not look to be significant for many of cricket experts (there are many of them) in Nepal, but I find them representative of Nepal cricket’s status. To be frank, Nepali cricket (except this tournament and some age group matches including u-19women’s Asia Cup hat-trick) is not performing too well (or maybe the senior team is not interested to win any big tournament before the constitution is promulgated!). The ACC T20 Cup, held in our own backyard, didn’t give us a platform to cheer as we were hardly winning matches against weak opponents and were badly washed by Afghan boys.
We are in the state of status quo, where we were in early parts of this millennium, winning some age group matches and still longing to find a good team at the senior level. And a question comes: Are we giving enough attempts to be the ‘winning side’? Are we in the right direction?
In the meantime, when it appeared in the media that Manushi was to become the member of CAN, the same question came in my mind: Are we in the right direction? Let’s leave the politics aside (I don’t have any problem with Manushi being Dr. BRB’s daughter), does Manushi really want to develop cricket in Nepal? What made her so interested in cricket that she wanted to enter in the governing body of cricket in Nepal? Isn’t she okay with being a political student union leader? Tanka Aangbuhang is the first elected president of CAN, but there was a popular joke in the pressbox during ACC T20 Cup at Kirtipur, everytime Nepal bowls or scores a shot, Mr President used to ask the assistant, “We won?”
He was politically appointed before being elected to this post, as he followed the footsteps of previous CAN President and members, JK Nath Shah and Binayaraj Pandey, less cricket and more politics. Why can’t we leave the game to be played by the players? Is it necessary to the politician to run the game and destroy the beauty of game as game has nothing to do with their politics?
Meanwhile, Shakti was making the country proud, with his awesome spin bowling in the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifying final round. He was dropped, he tried, worked hard and came back strong to leave a statement like ‘see, game should be played like this’. I am laughing at BRB’s decision (or someone else’s), to ‘almost’ appoint Manushi as the CAN member in the same time when Shakti, Chandra, Paras, Pradeep and all Nepali boys were making Nepali cricket proud. As BRB always talks about formulas, I don’t see any productive out of this equation working for him on and off the field.
Congratulations Shakti, you have shown how and where Nepali cricket should be played and what can these guys with ‘almost’ no facilities (facilities must have been spent on cricket research and cricket developers of CAN) prove at international cricket pitch to make Nepali cricket supporters jump off their seats with joy.
Nepal’s World T20 Cup dream came to an end as Nepali batsmen faltered once again on Tuesday in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers, this time against Canada.
In a complex equation of run rates, Nepal had a chance to qualify for the preliminary final, had it met the 102-run target in 12.3 overs. However, Nepali batting line-up crumbled down and was all out for 83 runs in 18.2 overs to hand over an 18-run victory to Canada.
After the defeat, Nepal finished fifth in Group A of the tournament. Nepal will now take on Kenya on Thursday in the seventh place play-off semifinal. Kenya finished fourth in Group B.
Canada won the toss and elected to bat at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Tuesday. As Nepal had to chase the target within 12 to 13 overs to maintain its net run rate, Nepali bowlers put their heart and soul into restricting Canada to the lowest possible score.
Skipper Paras Khadka and Chandra Saud took two wickets each while Shakti Gauchan and Basanta Regmi claimed a wicket each. Two Canadian batsmen were short of the crease as Canada put up 101/8 in the allotted 20 overs. Jimmy Hansra scored an unbeaten 29 runs of 34 balls. Rizwan Cheema and Tyson Gordon struck 15 runs each.
Shakti Gauchan appeals for a LBW during Nepal's match against Canada at the ICC World T20 Qualifiers on Tuesday in the UAE. Photo: ICC
In its attempt to chase the 102-run target in 12.3 overs, Nepal opened the innings with Anil Mandal and Pradeep Airee. They put up a 21-run partnership until the completion of the third over but Mandal (15 runs) was bowled by Junaid Siddiqui in the first ball of the fourth over.
Nepal changed its regular batting order sending Prithu Baskota up the order and bringing Paresh Lohani down the order. However, every experiment failed. Airee was run out after scoring eight runs. Prithu Baskota and Paras Khadka added two runs each before returning to the pavilion. Basanta Regmi, who was promoted to No 5 in the batting order above Sharad Vesawkar, Gyanendra Malla and Lohani, could not open his account. Malla and Lohani added six runs each.
The loss of wickets at regular intervals dashed the possibility of meeting the target in 12.3 overs. Nepal, then, tried to chase the target within 20 overs. Sharad Vesawkar scored 28 runs off 35 balls and Shakti Gauchan added 10 runs off 9 balls. However, Nepali batsmen failed to chase the target and were all out for 83 runs in 18.2 overs. Sanjam Regmi remained unbeaten on five runs while Chandra Saud added a run.
Junaid Siddiqui inflicted maximum damage on Nepal as his bowling figure was 4-0-13-3. Man-of-the-match Jimmy Hansra, Zahid Hussain and Harvir Singh Baidwan claimed a wicket each. Four Nepali batsmen — Airee, Vesawkar, Gauchan and Saud — were short of the crease.
Welcome:
Nepal are taking on Canada in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers today. Nepal have to win this match at least by 55 runs in batting first or within 12 to 13 overs in batting second. This is not exact calculation but the equation would be similar to this. We’ll begin live updates soon.
Netherlands outclassed Nepal by six wickets on Monday in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers being held in the UAE.
At the ICC Global Cricket Academy in Dubai, Netherlands won the toss and elected to field and restricted Nepal at 85/7 in allotted 20 overs. In reply, Netherlands met the target in 13.5 overs losing four wickets.
Netherlands Captain Peter Boreen (L) and Nepali Skipper Paras Khadka (R) pose for a photograph with match referee David Jukes during the toss. Photo: ICC
Nepal lost their opener Pradeep Airee (1 run) in the third over and the wickets kept on falling. Sharad Vesawkar, skipper Paras Khadka added a run each and returned to pavilion as Nepal was reeling at 10/3 in 4.3 overs. Opener Anil Mandal scored 11 runs off 24 balls. Gyanendra Malla added 32 runs off 49 balls in his attempt to anchor the innings.
Mehboob Alam (1 run) was bowled out by Tom Cooper while Prithu Baskota was run out adding eight runs.
Basanta Regmi remained not out adding 20 runs of 17 balls, which helped Nepal to reach 85/7. Shakti Gauchan remained unbeaten with two runs.
Michael Swart took two wickets while Mudassar Bukhari, Peter Borren and Tom Cooper claimed a wicket each.
In reply, openers Stephan Myburgh (15 runs) and Swart (16 runs) put up a 22-run first wicket partnership. Despite losing wickets in regular intervals, Netherlands batsmen chipped in to chase the small target. Wesley Barresi scored 14 runs. Tom Cooper added 18 runs and Alexei Keryezee chipped in with 15 runs to seal the easy victory.
Basanta Regmi took three wickets giving away 32 runs in four overs while Shakti Gauchan claimed a wicket.
Swart was awarded with man-of-the-match trophy for his all-round performance.
Nepal are taking on the Netherlands in a must win game in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers today. Cricket.com.np will give you the live updates of the match. You can watch live streaming on http://www.quipu.tv/html/live.html.
Skipper Paras Khadka and spinner Shakti Gauchan scripted Nepal’s 24-run win over Bermuda in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers on Sunday at Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi.
Player-of-the-match Khadka scored unbeaten 65 runs while Gauchan grabbed three wickets in a must win match for Nepal.
Gauchan is the leading wicket taker in the tournament with 12 wickets off five matches.
With three wins, Nepal have created its chance for the next round. Nepal have to win at least another match to qualify for the second round. Nepal will face Netherlands on Monday and Canada on Tuesday.
Winning the toss, Nepal opted to bat first and scored 151 runs for the loss of six wickets.
Nepal did not start well as they lost the first wicket with just 11 runs on board. Opener Anil Mandal (7) and Pradeep Airee (15) returned to the pavilion by the sixth over.
Sarad Vesawkar and Khadka shared 75-run partnership for the third wicket and pulled the team to a strong position. Vesawkar scored 44 runs off 37 balls with six boundaries.
With the fall of Vesawkar in the 16th over, Nepal continued to lose their wickets. Mehaboob Alam gave away his wicket in the 18th over. Gyanendra Malla (5) and Prithu Baskota (0) were back to the pavilion in 19th over.
Nepal captain Paras Khadka poses for a photograph after receiving man-of-the-match award in the ICC Wold T20 Qualifiers match against Bermuda in the UAE on Sunday. Photo: ICC
Basanta Regmi was not out at 10 runs off 4 balls while Khadka scored 65 runs off 48 balls with eight boundaries and a huge six. This was Khadka’s second half century in the tournament. Dion Stovell grabbed four wickets in his four over spell conceding 25 runs.
Chasing the total of 152 runs, Nepali bowlers restricted Bermuda at 127 runs for the loss five wickets. Gauchan gave a break through to Nepal as he trapped Stovell (16) LBW in the second ball of the fifth over. Two balls later, Gauchan again trapped Lionel Cann (0) LBW.
David Hemp and Steven Outerbridge shared an 18-run partnership but Outerbridge (10) was short to the crease. Hemp and Janeiro Tucker shared a 56-run partnership for the fourth wicket. Skipper Khadka grabbed the wicket of danger man Hemp (26).
Gauchan returned for the second spell and grabbed the wicket of Tucker in the 17th over. Tucker scored 32 runs off 27 balls with two boundaries and a huge six.
Khadka praised the bowlers for the win.
“We’ve good bowling side and it was a good effort by our bowlers. When we were batting this afternoon, after we lost the wicket in the second over, there was a good partnership and it was about me going out there and capitalizing on a good performance. We were getting boundaries pretty easily and out-field was very fast so it all worked in our favor,” said Khadka.
For the match against the Netherlands, skipper Khadka said the team is not out of the tournament and the match is crucial. “In cricket you never know what happens next. We’re here to give our best and we’ll focus on our strengths and try to put up a good result.”
Welcome to the live coverage of Nepal Vs Bermuda. This is the first ever encounter between both the teams at any level. Bermuda is best remembered by cricket fans for Dwayne Leverock, who played in the World Cup 2007. Most cricket lovers haven’t forgotten his eye popping, diving catch at the slips, off the bat of Robin Uthappa. If you want to have a glimpse of it, click here. For preview of the match by Cricket Nepal, click here.
We’d be going ahead with the live coverage as soon as it starts (1545 Hrs NST = 1000 Hrs GMT)
Nepal plays Bermuda in ICC World Twenty20 on Sunday. This is the first time both the teams are playing against each other. Bermuda has already played World Cup in 2007. Not to mention, this is the biggest championship Nepal has played so far.
But things have changed now. Bermuda is at the bottom of Group A, losing all four matches they’ve played. Meanwhile, Nepal has lost last two matches to drop down to fifth position. Top three teams of Group A and B will play semi-final play off.
Nepal defeated Hong Kong by 28 runs and followed it up with a 9-wicket win against Denmark. But lost two matches with almost same difference against Papua New Guinea (35 runs), on Thursday, and Afghanistan (34 runs) on Friday.
Afghanistan has almost confirmed a place for the second round, with 8 points, winning all four matches. Netherlands and Canada at the same spot with 6 points each. PNG and Nepal have 4 points each.
To get an entry into second round, this is an important match for Nepal. Nepal will have some chance if it defeats Bermuda and wins one of the matches against Netherlands or Canada.
Nepali chances will depend a lot on how Chandra Saud and Shakti Gauchan bowl. Gauchan, who is making a comeback in T20 format, is at the second spot of highest wicket takers, with 9 wickets, in the tournament so far. Playing his first matches in national colors, Saud has taken 8 wickets so far.
Nepal has happy memories of Sheikh Jayed Stadium. 3 years ago when Nepal played Kuwait, Binod Bhandari had hit a six off last bowl to ‘tie’ the T20 match. Bhandari is not in the team now, but that experience must be fresh in players’ mind.
Newly nominated member of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), Manusi Yami Bhattarai, announced on Saturday that she would step down from her post after she was dragged into controversy.
Issuing a press release, Bhattarai refuted media reports that she was nominated as a member of the CAN due to the influence of her father, Prime Minister Dr Baburam Bhattarai.
“A section is trying to create confusion and draw the PM into controversy by circulating false report that I got an appointment in the CAN just because I am the PM’s daughter,” Bhatarai said in a statement.
Earlier, National Sports Council (NSC) had confirmed on Saturday that Bhattarai and Deepak Saud were nominated as the members of CAN, but, within its legal framework and not because of any pressure from political level.
According to Bhattarai, the PM was unaware about the issue. She said that she would no longer stay in the CAN.
Newspapers on Saturday had reported that Bhattari was appointed as a member of CAN with the direct order from PM Bhattarai.
Manushi is secretary of the Free Student Union of the Central Campus, Tribhuwan University, in which premises Nepal’s only international standard cricket ground exists.
The Embassy of India on Friday announced to award education scholarship to the members of the Nepali U-19 women´s cricket team, who recently won the title of the ACC U-19 Women´s Championship for the third consecutive time.
Each member of the squad will receive Rs 5,000 every month for two years to continue their education, the Indian Embassy said during a press conference organized in the capital on Friday.
Along with the scholarship, the players also received insurance policies worth Rs 100,000 for two years for sports injury from National Insurance Company.
India´s Ambassador to Nepal Jayanta Prasad congratulated the Nepali U-19 squad for being undefeated in the tournament for three years. “The government of Nepal had earlier felicitated the team and now it is our turn to encourage them through education,” said the ambassador.
Minister of Education Dinanath Sharma said that the scholarship for the players will strengthen the relationship between the two countries. “I want the players to win more and more matches in the future and flourish the name of the country world-wide.”
Sharma added that he is a keen spectator of cricket. “I used to surf the net for the live coverage when the team had visited Kuwait for the tournament and was happy to know that Nepal lifted the trophy for the third time.”
Minister of Youth and Sports Kamala Roka thanked the Embassy of India for felicitating the players. “The scholarship will encourage the players to play well in the upcoming years.”
Representing the players, Shilu Rijal thanked the embassy for awarding scholarship to them. “Education is a must for the players and especially for women as it is said that to educate a women is to educate the whole family,” said Rijal.
Nepal suffered consecutive defeats in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers being held in the UAE as Afghanistan registered a 34-run victory on Friday.
Afghanistan won the toss and elected to bat at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium and the country with One Day status proved to be too mighty for Nepal.
Afghanistan put up 157/6 in the allotted 20 overs and restricted Nepal at 123/6.
Though Chandra Saud claimed the wicket of Shabir Noori (naught) in the very first over of the innings, opener Karim Sadiq and Mohammad Shahzad consolidate Afghanistan.
Sadiq and Shahzad put up 86-run partnership for the second wicket. Sadiq scored 52 runs off 39 balls including a boundary and three sixes while Shahzad faced 43 balls for identical score. Shahzad struck three boundaries and two sixes.
Nawroz Mangal chipped in with 27 runs off 21 balls while Mohammad Nabi remained unbeaten to add invaluable 16 runs.
Chandra Saud dismissed three Afghan batsmen while Nepali skipper Paras Khadka took two wickets. Shakti Gauchan claimed a wicket.
Nepali opener Anil Mandal is clean bowled by Dawlat Zadran of Afghanistan during their match on Friday in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers being held in the UAE. Photo: ICC
Chasing the huge target of 158 against the quality Afghan bowling was a daunting task for Nepali batsmen.
Paresh Lohani was dropped for Friday’s match and Anil Mandal joined Pradeep Airee for opening Nepali innings.Nepal’s expectation of getting good start shattered when Airee got out in the first ball.
Mandal scored 50 runs off 49 balls including four boundaries and a six in his attempt to anchor Nepali innings. Sharad Vesawkar scored 18 runs of 25 balls. In the later part of the innings, mounting required run rate pressurized Nepali batsmen and wickets kept on falling. Skipper Paras Khadka added 24 runs to make the defeat less humiliating.
Dawlat Zadran and Mohammad Nabi claimed two wickets each. After scoring brilliant half century, Karim Sadiq took a wicket to win the man-of-the-match trophy.
Nepal, who defeated Hong Kong and Denmark in their first two matches, had lost to Papua New Guinea on Thursday.
Following the successive defeats, Nepal remain at the fifth place in the group ‘A’ points table with four points from four matches. Unbeaten Afghanistan have 8 points from four matches. There are eight teams in the group.
Welcome to the live coverage of Nepal Vs Afghanistan.
Nepal takes on Afghanistan in the fourth match of the World Twenty20 Cup qualifiers in UAE. Nepal has won two matches, against Hong Kong and Denmark but lost to PNG on Thursday. Today’s match begins at 1000 Hrs GMT (1545 NST). We’ll go live some 15 minutes before the match starts.
Today’s match will be the third T20 encounters between Nepal and Afghanistan. Afghanistan had defeated Nepal in the previous two meetings. Afghanistan had defeated Nepal by six wickets in the ACC T20 Cup, 2007 and by nine wickets in the ACC T20 Cup 2011, held in Kathmandu in December.
Nepali captain Paras Khadka received an official reprimand for breaching ICC Code of Conduct.
According to ICC Media and Communication Officer Lucy Benjamin, Khadka received the official reprimand for showing dissent at an umpire’s decision during the ICC World T20 Qualifiers’ match between Nepal and Papua New Guinea on Thursday in Sharjah Cricket Stadium. Nepal had lost the match by 35 runs.
Khadka pleaded guilty to a Level 1 offence and accepted the proposed sanction by ICC Match Referee David Jukes. The charge was brought by on-field umpires Ian Ramage and Roger Dill and third umpires Joel Wilson.
“After being given out in the ninth over, the player rubbed his bat implying that he had hit the ball after being given out LBW. This was considered to be a show of dissent, a fact accepted by the player himself. As Khadka pleaded guilty and accepted the proposed sanction, there was no need for a formal hearing,” reads the press note issued by ICC.
According to ICC, all the Level 1 breaches carry a minimum penalty of a reprimand and a warning and, as with other breaches at this level, the ICC Match Referee’s decision is final and binding.
“Accepting the umpires’ decision is part and parcel of playing cricket on this occasion Khadka showed dissent when being given out. I hope this reprimand and warning will remind him to always respect the umpires’ decision,” said Jukes.
Prithu Banskota’s unbeaten 36 runs off 36 balls went in vain as rest of the other Nepali batsmen faltered against Papua New Guinea (PNG). Nepal suffered a 35-run defeat in their third match in the ICC World T20 Qualifiers in the UAE on Thursday.
Nepal had defeated Hong Kong on Tuesday and Denmark on Wednesday.
PNG, which lost its first two matches against Afghanistan and Canada, put up 137/8 and restricted Nepal at 102/8 at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium to notch their first victory in the tournament.
Nepal's Prithu Baskota plays a shot against PNG at the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier UAE 2012. Photo: ICC
Nepal won the toss and elected to field first. Chandra Saud provided breakthrough as early as the fourth ball of the innings claiming the wicket of Tony Ura. When Captain Paras Khadka took the wicket of Asad Vala, PNG were reeling at 16/2 in 3.5 overs. Geraint Jones (32 runs) Mahura Dai (12) runs put up a 30-run third wicket partnership. Chris Amini anchored the PNG innings remaining unbeaten with invaluable 38 runs. Jack Vare chipped in adding 19 runs. Nepali bowlers gave away 15 runs as extras.
Shakti Gauchan, who had taken hat-trick against Denmark, and Basanta Regmi took two wickets each. Chandra Saud, Paras Khadka and Mehboob Alam dismissed one PNG batsman each.
In reply, Nepali batsmen failed to build partnership. Paresh Lohani returned to the pavilion scoring just three runs. Though Pradeep Airee and Sharad Vesawkar got the start, they could not translate it into big ones. Airee scored 13 runs while Vesawkar added just 14 runs.
Paras Khadka scored six runs while Gyanendra Malla added only eight runs.
Prithu Baskota showed some guts and remained unbeaten scoring 36 runs including a boundary and a six but the wicket kept on falling at the other end.
Amini was pick among the PNG bowlers as he claimed two wickets. He was named man-of-the-match.
Welcome to the live coverage of Nepal Vs PNG.
Nepal takes on Papua New Guinea in the third match of the World Twenty20 Cup qualifiers in UAE. Nepal has already won two matches, against Hong Kong and Denmark. PNG has lost both its matches so far. In the first match Afghanistan defeated PNG by 6 wickets and in the second it was defeated by Canada by 6 runs.
Today’s match begins at 1000 Hrs GMT (1545 NST). We’ll go live some 15 minutes before the match starts.
Many eyes would be on former England international Geraint Jones, who has played a number of T20 matches for England and Kent. Before the match begins, have a look at yesterday’s match report here. For more on last match’s hero, Shakti Gauchan click here, and his passion, click here. If you want to have a look at archived profile on Shakti, written almost a decade ago, click here.
Spinner Shakti Gauchan, who took a hat-trick to script Nepal’s victory against Denmark in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier match on Wednesday, is found to be a great fan of football also.
Gauchan, who gave breakthrough to Nepal taking the wicket of Shehzad Ahmed in his first spell, took hat-trick in the 13th over of the Denmark’s innings as he claimed the wicket of Rizwan Mahmood, Aftab Ahmed and Kamran Mahmood.
Then he celebrated in a footballer’s style, running away from the wicket and sliding on his chest like a football player.
“When I took my hat-trick, I ran away from the wicket and slid on my chest like a football player,” said Gauchan to ICC.
“I am also a big football fan, I like to watch the football, and I like to celebrate like a football player,” revealed the spinner.
