ICC – An International Cricket Council delegation led by Chief Executive David Richardson and ICC Chairman of Associates Imran Khwaja, were hosted by the Honorable Prime Minister of Nepal, Pushpa Kamal Dahal, in Kathmandu today.
The meeting was arranged to chart out the roadmap for reinstating Nepal’s membership following the suspension of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) earlier this year. The focus of the meeting was the improved governance of the sport in Nepal to ensure the huge potential of cricket there could be realized.
The meetings ended constructively with the Honorable Prime Minister extending his support to ICC’s efforts in lifting the suspension.
The next steps to Nepal’s reinstatement will see the formation of an advisory group comprising various stakeholders of cricket in Nepal with an initial mandate to review and potentially rewrite the Constitution of the CAN. Elections will be conducted subsequently as per the revised constitution.
Mr Richardson said the meeting had been constructive.
“The meeting with the Honorable Prime Minister was very encouraging. Nepal is an important member with huge potential. It is important for us to work out a roadmap for its reinstatement,” Mr Richardson said.
Mr Khwaja said the move was a positive one for Nepal’s cricket fraternity.
“I’m confident everything will be worked out smoothly and the country’s cricket will benefit immensely in the coming years,” Mr Khwaja said.
The ICC had suspended Nepal in April for breach of Article 2.9 of the ICC’s Articles of Association, which prohibits government interference and requires free and fair elections. The suspension cut off funding for the CAN but Nepal was allowed to continue participating in ICC events.
The ICC Board will be provided with a status update report on Nepal at its October meetings in Cape Town.
