By: Swurya Thapaliya
Perfect 10 for Avinash Karn
Avinash Karna, another left-arm pacer became only the second Nepali bowler to take all the 10 wickets in an innings. He achieved the feat in a match against Baitadi at the TU Cricket Ground in the league round of the Wai Wai U-19 National Cricket Tournament 2067.
His figure read 6.1-1-24-10.
He emulated the feat of senior pro Mehabob Alam who claimed all the ten wickets of Mozambique during the ICC WCL Div Tournament held in Jersey in 2008.This is the first occasion in domestic cricket that any bowler has claimed all 10 wickets in an innings.
Avinash thinks that he was good enough to play in India in age category. He opted to play for Nepal because of the pure love for the homeland.
Rahul’s spin demolishes Thailand
Left arm spinner added another feather to his cap, this time recording his best figure in International cricket. U 19 Vice-captain Rahul Biswokarma bowled superbly for his best international performance, grabbing 8 for 15 against Thailand at the ACC U-19 Elite Cup 2011 held in Thailand
Rahul’s left arm orthodox spin overhauled his best international figure at any level surpassing his 7-wicket haul against USA in the final of the World Cricket League Division 5 in Kathmandu in 2010. It’s also best performance for Nepal as the age-group level bettering Raj Shrestha’s 7/16 against Qatar in ACC U-17 Cup in 2004.
Armed Police Force forms cricket teams
At first sight one may get perplexed by looking at the Armed Police Force (APF) outfit. Is this a departmental team or a National squad?
APF signed national team captain Paras Khadka and 15 others players, who formed almost the whole chalk of national side. Former national team player Raju Basnet is the coach of the APF team.
It has had a significant impact on Region no 3 Kathmandu as it left a large void in the team composition of Kathmandu. However, it had also placed a question into perspective- How the other regions would fare against this star studded team once they lock horns in National tournament? The signs were already bleak when the APF team was barred from playing in a national level T20 event that was held in Birgunj. One insider revealed that it was a foul play from the Cricket Association of Nepal, CAN, which according to him developed the format of the event and did not involve APF team. The formation of APF team has left the CAN in a pickle. Known for making players play without a contract, CAN found itself in a dry when the players joined APF weakening the hitherto inescapable dominance of CAN over players.
It is seen as a good move toward the direction of professionalism in Nepalese cricket. However, even APF seems to have jumped into the ambition without many thoughts into how this move would impact Nepalese cricket, especially in the selection of a national side.
APF even went one step further by unveiling women cricket team on the eve of New Year 2068.The country’s first private mobile company Ncell signed a sponsorship deal worth Rs 1.4 million per year with APF which will mainly go to the cricket teams.
The APF women’s cricket team consists of former national captains Neera Rajopadyay, who will captain the APF Club, and Ritu Kanaujiya, vice-captain Rubina Chhetri, Sita Rana, Binu Buda Magar, Manisha Rawal, Mamta Thapa, Rekha Rawal, Sonu Khadka, Geeta Chudal Sarita Magar, Karuna Bhandari, Rashmi Sharma, Jyoti Pandey and Khina Thapa.
Roy Luke Dias leaves room no 3032
They say, “Every good thing must come to an end.”
It could not have come at a better time than this. One of the legends of Sri Lanka cricket, Roy Luke Dias has served Nepal cricket for almost a decade. He was credited most notably, for making Nepal a force to reckon among associates. For all his virtues, he will be still criticized for inhibited style of batting of Nepalese side.
Every performance that comes under media and public scrutiny is challenging. Mr. Dias, for some obvious reasons did not come under any great pressure, given the amount of cricket Nepal played and its impact in national feeling, unlike other sub-continent cricket mad countries. His contribution to Nepalese cricket cannot be devalued. He took over the side when Nepal was just a toddler in International cricket. He brought many cricket accolades to the country and was instrumental in making of some of the big stars of Nepalese cricket. However, he will still infamously be remembered for spending more time in the luxury room at a Five star hotel than under the sun.
Next coach required……..Major qualification …….……who is willing to spend more time visiting cricket hubs in the country
Nepal qualifies for U-19 WC
Nepal qualified for the global qualifier for the ICC U-19 World Cup when it reached the final of the ACC U-19 Elite Cup 2011 with a six-wicket victory over Qatar in the semifinal at AIT Ground, Thailand. Nepal had qualified for the previous editions during the span 2001-2007 but did not qualify for the last editions. Nepal is set to play the qualifier slated for June in Ireland for ICC U 19 WC 2012.
Former cricketers move SC against CAN
Players don’t like to go to court. In fact, no one likes to get entangled in legal matters. When every door is shut, go and knock the doors of Supreme Court.
Former national cricketers have appealed to the Supreme Court to issue stay order against the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) until the election to form a first ever elected committee.
The Prime Minister´s Office, Ministry of Youth and Sports, National Sports Council (NSC), CAN and its president Binay Raj Pandey have been made defendants in the case filed by former players Aamir Akhtar, Dipendra Chaudhary, Manoj Kumar Baisya, Sailendra Khadka and cricket promoter Surya Thapaliya.
The players have claimed that CAN has never conducted election of its executive committee and the association lacks financial transparency. They have also claimed that CAN has failed to decentralize tournaments and has been exploiting players.
Akhtar, a former national team bowler, said that they have appealed to the court to establish rule of law in the sports sector. “CAN will get a new leadership if the election is conducted,” said Akhtar. He said absence of elected leadership in CAN has hampered players´ development.
“CAN used to provide Rs 25 per day to the players during national tournaments. Players protested against it last year. We withdrew our protest after sponsors warned they would stop financing us. They increased the daily allowance to Rs 75 per day after the protest but nothing as such have been done yet. This forced us to move the Supreme Court,” said Dipendra Chaudhary.
Akhtar said that CAN neither signs contracts with players nor gives proper allowances despite signing sponsorship deals with corporate houses.
Akhtar said that they had earlier visited NSC demanding fresh election within CAN. “They turned a deaf ear to our demands and this made us move the Supreme Court,” said Akhtar.
CAN President Pandey said he was unaware about the players´ move. “Our association is affiliated to NSC and we run under their guidance. If NSC and CAN have been made defendants, we´ll plan our move in consultation with NSC,” said Pandey.
CAN is shortly organizing National Cricket Tournament and if the court issues stay order it will hamper the tournament. Answering on the issue, one of the plaintiffs Chaudhary said that this would exert pressure on CAN.
Flop show at Asiad 2010
Play more if you want to win-don’t stay in Hotel
Prior to the departure of Nepalese eve to the Asian Games in China, the buzz here was that Nepal would at least grab bronze medal in the sporting extravaganza. We were in fact, taking Japan too lightly. The general mindset behind it was the fallacious preconception that Japanese did not know how to play cricket. Very few had realized then that the girls from the land of samurais were sharpening their skills in New Zealand when our own players were made to stay most of their time in hotel rooms.
The hope fazed and the dream was shattered. Nepali women cricket team ended the Asian Games 2010 campaign with dismal performance with just one win in three matches and were unable to reach the semifinals.
They lost to Japan twice – once in league and next in quarterfinals and registered a win against Hong Kong.
Nepal defends ACC U-19 Women’s title
It seems like we are best when we are below 19. The mystery still haunts us why we loose our teeth and claws once we reach twenties.
In another anticipated result, Nepali girls defended the ACC U-19 Women’s Championship title defeating Bhutan by five wickets at the Indian Association Ground, Singapore.
Bhutan were restricted to 53/6 in rain-reduced 20-over-a-side match. Nepal reached the target in 17.2 overs losing five wickets and Sarita Magar standing firm scoring unbeaten 23.
Coming into the finals, the two Himalayan neighbors had been unbeaten and the content was set to be the most fierce one.
Very tight bowling led by Rubina Chhetri, who grabbed 3/15, made runs premium and Bhutan lost their top batswomen one-by-one without contributing much to the total.
Captain Nary Thapa (1/7), Geeta Chudal (0/3 in 3 overs), Sarita Magar (1/6 in 2 overs) and Shraddha Aryal (1/7 in 3 overs) made it difficult for Bhutanese women to score on overcast condition.
The events mentioned here are not in the order of merit.
