The national cricket team has left for Pakistan for final tune up before participating in the ACC Trophy, the premier tournament for non-test playing countries in Asia, slated for Kuala Lumpur from August 14.
According to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), Nepal will play three friendly matches in Karachi. Jeevan Ram Shrestha, member secretary of National Sports Council, bade farewell to the team. The participation is vital for the Nepalese side as it can sketch the hopes of selection for the 2011 World Cup. The Nepalese team must reach at least the third position to play in the second division qualifying tournament to romp into the 2011 World Cup.
The CAN organized a formal farewell at the Tribhuvan International Airport on Saturday. In the meantime, Nepalese skipper Binod Das was confident of winning the matches in Malaysia. “The past year was very successful for us and we have been playing good cricket,” Das said and added, “We will do everything to be selected in second division qualifying round.”
Nepal is drawn in the Group C along with Bhutan, Myanmar, Hong Kong, and Kuwait. Group A consists of UAE, Saudi Arabia, Brunei and Malaysia, while Oman, Maldives, Bahrain and Singapore are in Group B. Qatar, Afghanistan, Iran, Thailand and Indonesia is in Group D.
Nepal will open their campaign on August 14 with a match against Bhutan, and will play Hong Kong two days later. Nepal will take on Kuwait on August 18 and Myanmar on August 20. The quarter-finals will be held on August 23, while the semi-finals are slated for August 24 and 25. The final will be held on August 27.
Nepal will also try to erase their bitter ousting at the hands of Qatar last year.
The cricket squad is as follows: Binod Das (captain), Shakti Prasad Gauchan (vice-captain), Paresh Prasad Lohani, Dhirendra Bahadur Chand, Mahesh Chhetry, Raj Kumar Pradhan, Sharad Vesawkar, Gyanendra Malla, Paras Khadka, Basanta Regmi, Akash Gupta, Manoj Baisya, Raju Basnyat, Mehboob Alam, Thakur Pratap Thapa (manager), Asha Gurung (assistant manager), Roy Luke Dias (coach) and Jung Bahadur Thapa (assistant coach).
Football team leaves for Bangkok, Thailand
Meanwhile, the national football team has also left for Bangkok for practice matches before heading for the South Asian Games.
The team suffered a blow when its rock-solid defender Suman Subedi was left aside for the as he was diagnosed with jaundice putting the squad’s defense line in doldrums.
During the farewell program at TIA Airport, Suman, MPC defender, felt uneasy and was sent to a doctor and found with jaundice which ruled him out from the squad. “This is a huge blow for us,” Coach Shyam Thapa said and added, “We didn’t know he was going through such a condition.”
When ANFA was asked about Suman’s case, Gen Secretary of ANFA said, “We will consult with doctors and make a decision soon on whether he can join the squad or somebody will replace him.”
Meanwhile, Coach Thapa still believes his charges of doing better this time in Colombo. “It is important to win the first match, not just for points, but also to gain confidence,” Thapa said. “Our boys have more international exposure than any team and hopefully they play up to it”.
“Gold is our target and winning the first match against India can provide hopes to our aim,” Thapa added. The Nepalese team will leave Thailand for Sri Lanka on 12th August to participate in the 10th South Asian Games.
Member Secretary of NSC Jeevan Ram Shrestha, ANFA President Ganesh Thapa, ANFA Gen Secretary Narendra Shrestha and other ANFA officials bade farewell to the team in a program at TIA before departure.
The squad is as follows:
Goal Keepers
Ritesh Thapa (MPC)
Sangeet Kumar Rajak (MMC)
Samit Rajbhandari (APF)
Defense
Sagar Thapa (MMC)
Lok Bandhu Gurung (NTSC)
Santosh Gurung (NTSC)
Sandeep Rai (MMC)
Anjan KC (NTSC)
Suman Subedi (MPC)
Mid Field
Vijay Gurung (NTSC)
Vishan Gauchan (NTSC)
Pradeep Maharjan (NTSC)
Raju Tamang (TAC)
Nirajan Khadka (MMC)
Man Sajan Rajbhandari (APF)
Jeevan Sinkeman (NRT)
Forward
Anil Gurung (NTSC)
Yugal K Rai
Santosh Shahukhala
Jumanu Rai