Nepal entered into Plate Championship semi finals of ICC U-19 World Cup, defeating Uganda by sixty wickets.
Chasing a modest 193 runs for victory, the Africans could only muster 132 runs in 44.3 overs in their Plate Championship quarter-final.
With this victory, Nepal will play South Africa in the Plate Championship semi-final on Thursday, while Uganda will face Scotland in the Plate Championship play-off semi-final on Friday.
Nepal opted to bat first after winning the toss at the venue throughout the competition.
It looked to be a costly gamble as they slipped to 85-5 before Gyanendra Malla (64) and Basant Regmi (42 not out) hauled them back into contention
The duo added 48 for the sixth wicket and with Regmi then finding useful allies in the lower order in the shape of Bantu Bataju (11) and Raj Shrestha (11), the Nepalese were left with something to bowl at as they finished with 192-9.
Charles Waiswa (2-31) picked up the early wickets of Chaugai (6) and Sharad Vesawkar (1) and with Davis Arinaitwe (2-17) dismissing Mahesh Chhetri (17) and Paras Khadka (0), Nepal were in a heap of trouble at 52-4 before they rallied.
Malla’s innings was a patient one, spanning 138 minutes, during which time he faced 122 balls and hit seven fours.
Regmi was equally patient early on although he opened out later on as the overs ran out and ended up facing 61 balls in 100 minutes at the crease, hitting four fours.
Arinaitwe was a model of economy for Uganda as he completed his full ten over allocation while the other wicket-takers were Ronald Semanda (2-47) and Raymond Otim (3-20).
When they batted, Uganda made their best start of the tournament as captain Hamza Almuzahim (24) and Arthur Kyobe (16) added 56 for the first wicket but once they were separated, the by-now familiar batting collapse began and they slipped to 65-4.
Jimmy Okello (18) and Semanda (23) staged a mini-recovery as they added 31 but from 96-4 they slumped again and were unable to deal with the pressure exerted by the Nepal bowlers, especially left-arm spinner Shrestha, who bowled eight overs to take 1-5.
Wicketkeeper Chhetri took five catches behind the stumps to complete a very satisfactory day for Nepal.
Nepal will face South Africa in the Plate Championship semi-finals and both sides will know that Nepal beat their more illustrious opponents in the ICC U/19 Cricket World Cup two years ago.
Nepal did not get entry into Super League after England defeated Nepal by 77 runs in the first match and Zimbabwe defeated Nepal by 2 runs in the second match. The top two teams from each group qualify for the Super League series while the bottom two go to the Plate Championship.
Describing the present situation in Nepal as “very very serious”, the Commonwealth has urged the royal government to ensure the involvement of people to restore democracy.
“The situation in Nepal is very very serious,” agency reports Tuesday quoted Commonwealth Secretary General Don Mckinnon as saying.
“We want to see tensions and tempers reduced. For too long now, there has been high level of antagonism in the country,” the chief of the 53-nation organisation, who is currently on a three-day tour to India, said in New Delhi on Tuesday.
He also urged the government to ensure involvement and engagement of people rather than marginalising them. “The Royal government has to engage people so that everyone feels involved and not marginalized,” Mckinnon said.
Referring to the February 8 civic polls in Nepal, Mckinnon said, “There was a turnout of less than 20 percent and no participation of major political parties. It is just not credible”.
The Commonwealth’s criticism follows sharp reactions by a large section of the international community, including India, USA and Japan, towards the polls.
Amidst reports of violence and protest from the opposition political parties and the Maoists, the government held municipal elections last Wednesday in 36 municipalities.
The government has officially rebuffed the reactions of the international community saying that no foreign country is supposed to comment on the internal affairs of a sovereign country.
Tribhuvan Army Club (TAC) and Mahendra Police Club (MPC) played to a goalless draw while Machhindra Football Club (MFC) outclassed Sankata Club 2-0 and New Road Team (NRT) beat Mahabir Club (MC) 5-1 in the matches played in the ANFA Martyrs’ Memorial San Miguel “A” Division League Football Tournament.
Though TAC dominated the first half and created some goal scoring chances, they could not find the net. In the second half, MPC settled down and pressured, but also could not produce a result. The draw was a bonus for Nabil Three Star Club which finds itself atop the league.
In the other game, the Red Lions (MFC) survived relegation with a 2-0 win over Sankata Club. Buddha Chemzong and Deepak Rai scored to grab the much-important three points that provided them saline to stay in the top league.
MFC was further helped with the 1-5 loss by Mahabir Club against NRT at Halchowk Stadium. Sunil Subedi struck a hat trick while Jeevan Sinkeman and Kiran Kapali added a goal apiece.
The loss resulted in Mahabir Club being relegated with just 22 points with 6 wins, 4 draws and 18 losses.
Former Foreign Minister Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa
Former Foreign Minister Dr. Bhekh Bahadur Thapa
(File photo)
Former Foreign Minister Dr Bhekh Bahadur Thapa said Sunday peace should be the sole agenda of Nepal’s foreign policy at present.
Speaking at a programme in the capital on Sunday, Dr Thapa further said the country should also heed the voice of the international community in pursuing the peace agenda.
Dr Thapa also pointed out the possibility of getting isolated if a country doesn’t heed suggestions of the international community, adding, “In today’s world, no country can escape the established norms in the pretext of internal affairs.”
He said that the internal conflict in Nepal has now become of international concern. “Since we failed to act responsibly, Item 19 has been passed and Nepal has been censured,” he said.
“Various treaties, agreements and forums have made us inseparable from the international community. If we fail to honour those treaties, international community will surely criticize us and we cannot call it an intervention.”
Dr Thapa pointed out the need of improving Nepal’s image in the outside world to facilitate the country’s participation in the world community.
Abducted employees of Surya Nepal
(Photo source : THT)
The family members of the abducted employees of Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd, a leading Nepal-India joint venture, have said that it is not fair on part of the Maoists to put conditions for the release of their beloved ones.
Maoists abducted manufacturing manager Prabhakar Bikram Shah, production manager Sarbajit Rana and commercial manager Damabarmani Limbu from the southern district of Bara on February 3.
The wives of Shah, Rana and Limbu pointed out that before this abduction, the Maoists had been promising that workers would not be abducted. They also urged all to initiate steps for the safe release of their kidnapped husbands at the earliest.
Human rights activist Suresh Aryal said the Maoists should release the abductees immediately and unconditionally, in accordance with humanitarian laws.
A report from Birgunj said the ANTUF brought the three Surya Nepal officials before a team of rights activists on Sunday at Chhatiwan village in Makwanpur.
The Maoist affiliated trade union has been demanding release of some of its cadres for their release.
President of the Maoist affiliated trade union, Shalik Ram Jamakattel, said the abducted will be released if the “concerned side” shows seriousness to implement the demands put forward by them.
Meanwhile Surya Nepal Pvt Ltd on Sunday expressed concern over the abduction of its employees and urged the Maoists to free them unconditionally.
Formerly known as Surya Tobacco Company (P) Ltd, Surya Nepal is the largest private sector company in the country. Its promoters include ITC of India and the Rana group led by Siddhartha SJB Rana.
The Federation of Nepalese Journalists (FNJ), an umbrella organization of working journalists, has expressed objection over the Maoist threat to take action against journalists and urged the Maoist leadership to immediately stop terrorizing journalists and respect press freedom.
In a statement issued on Sunday, the FNJ has drawn the attention of the Maoist leadership towards the repeated threats and harassment to journalists Ekaedra Kumar Kunwar of Accham Sandesh Weekly and Birendra Rawal of Hamro Seti weekly.
The Maoists on February 1 issued a notice to Kunwar to be present at the “Seti-Mahakali Autonomous Council, People’s Republic District People’s Court” in Accham within seven days or face dire consequences.
Rawal has also received similar threat. Stating that the latest act of Maoists contravenes the agreement signed earlier between Maoists and FNJ, the FNJ urged the Maoist leadership to honour their commitment.
According to the FNJ, Maoists and FNJ signed an agreement to honour independence of media and allow unconditional access to journalists to collect and disseminate news.
Meanwhile, the federation also urged the government to immediately release 16 journalists.
The detained journalists include, Shyam Shrestha, Sudarshan Acharya, Bhaktadhwaj Bohara, Dwarika Upreti, Dil Bahadur Ayre, Keshav Neupane, Chamina Bhattrai, Sambhu Mahato, JB Ghale Magar and Tikaram Ghimire among others.
The government on Sunday released 55 people, who were arrested from anti-poll demonstrations and given three-month detention notices.
Those released includes teachers, engineers, doctors and students who were given three-month detention orders after their arrest.
Among the detainees freed included 23 professionals including former Vice Chancellor of Tribhuvan University, Nabin Prakash Jung Shah, Prof Dr Saubhagya Jung Karki, Dr Kul Prasad Koirala and Nepal Engineers’ Association chairman Saroj Devkota. They were arrested from a protest rally on February 3.
The Kathmandu District Court Sunday released 17 students belonging to the Nepal Students’ Union who were arrested from various places and were given three-month detention orders.
Among those released are NSU general secretary Ranjit Karna, NSU central member Bishnu Panthi, Bal Dev Timilsina, Hari Acharya, Sagar Bhattarai, Pritam Gurung and others, according to reports.
The court also freed 15 ANNFSU activists including Hira Bahadur KC, Rupesh Khatiwada, Prakash Neupane, Dwarika Uprety, Nabina Lama and Dipendra Gautam.
Meanwhile, the Nepal University Teachers Association Sunday threatened to announce protest programmes if the rest of the detainees were not released by tomorrow.
Also on Sunday, activists of the eight student unions protested in front of the Institute of Engineering against “autocracy” and the killing of a UML cadre in Dang.
According to reports, the government arrested nearly 1500 people across the country from anti-poll demonstrations and pro-democracy movement.
Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Sunday ordered the government authorities to produce 21 political leaders before the court to test the legality of their detention.
Responding to a habeas corpus petition, a single bench of justice Top Bahadur Magar issued the order to the Ministry of Home Affairs, the Police Headquarters, the Kathmandu District Administration Office and the City Police Anamnagar to produce 13 political detainees including former lawmaker Sushila Nepal.
In response to separate habeas corpus petitions, the bench also ordered the government to produce a group of three political activists including Bhim Bahadur Thapa and a group of four activists, including Dipak Bista and Ghanashyam Pandey on February 16 and former deputy mayor of Kathmandu Metropolitan City, Bidur Mainali, on February 17.
Supreme Court (File photo)
The Supreme Court (SC) is likely to give its verdict on the controversial Royal Commission for Corruption Control (RCCC) today.
A five member special bench of the SC comprising justices Kedar Prasad Giri, Min Bahadur Rayamajhi, Ram Nagina Singh, Anup Raj Sharma and Ram Prasad Shrestha has been testing the constitutionality of the RCCC formed after the royal takeover of last year.
The much awaited verdict was deferred last on January 5, citing that the justices had not finished reading the written pleadings submitted by lawyers.
“Unless someone among us calls sick and becomes absent on Monday, the verdict will come on Monday as scheduled,” reports quoted a SC source as saying.
According to the source, the justices met throughout the day Sunday to discuss the case, and finally decided not to defer the verdict this time.
King Gyanendra formed the RCCC after the royal takeover to look after corruption related cases under Article 127, emergency provision of the Constitution.
The body has been in controversy at the national and international level since its inception of being an “extra-judicial body.”
The RCCC has already fined and slapped jail sentence to dozens of government officials and political leaders including former Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and the then physical planning minister Prakash Man Singh on charges of corruption.
The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has asked the Nepal government to initiate peace process to restore political stability and improve the security situation, pre-conditions for eradication of poverty in the country.
The directors of IMF has asked the government while adopting the report entitled ‘Article IV’ prepared by a team of IMF after discussion with government officials.
The agency has further requested the government to maintain fiscal transparency, improve public expenditure management and address donor concerns about the quality of spending. The agency has also called for more comprehensive reporting of security-related spending.
The agency said that the decade long conflicted has deteriorated the economic sector of the country and that to improve the situation, the government must take immediate steps to deal with the violence.
The IMF noted that Nepal is currently at a critical juncture, as political uncertainties and the ongoing insurgency continue to dampen economic growth. It has encouraged the government to resolve these uncertainties, improve security, and make progress toward peace as essential steps to support poverty reduction efforts and private sector led growth.
It has further stressed that significant loan recoveries from large, willful defaulters are required to improve the balance sheets of ailing commercial banks. ‘The delay in the restructuring of the Nepal Industrial Development Corporation should be addressed by privatizing it promptly and transparently, the report said.
A team of IMF visited Nepal between October 20 and November 2, 2005 to conduct the 2005 Article IV consultation discussions and access the economic situation of the country.
IMF is one of Nepal’s largest donors for economic development.
The employees of state-owned Nepal Telecom (NT) have organized a protest programme against the government’s decision to suspend services of pre-paid mobile phones on Monday.
NT employees wearing black bands in protest. nepalnews.com/rh
NT employees wearing black bands in protest. nepalnews.com/rh
The employees staged a symbolic protest by working with black bands between 10 a.m. and 12 a.m.
Two leading trade unions — Nepal Telecom Workers’ Union (NTWU) and Telecom Employees Association Nepal (TEAN) — have jointly organized the protest programmes beginning Monday.
The central agitation committee further said that they would surround the office of the managing director in Kathmandu and regional directors from 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Wednesday.
The committee said that they would announce stronger programmes if the government turned a deaf ear towards their demands.
On Sunday, NTWU president Kumar Jung Karki said in a press meet that they would increase the time of sit-in protests by one hour every day.
Pre-paid mobile phone services were resumed after six months of closure last year. The government has closed the services since a month citing security reasons. There are over 200,000 pre-paid users in the country.