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Building Reputation
After winning the Plate championship at the U 19 ICC world cup, Nepal now has build a reputation that it must keep in the days ahead
By A CORRESPONDENT
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Nepali team : Winning touch |
After the upset win Nepal registered successively in the recently concluded plate championship of Under 19 ICC (International Cricket Council) World Cup tournament – by overcoming the Proteas and Kiwis – a reputed cricket writer Andrew McGlashan wrote in his column in www.cricinfo.com that Nepal ’s display was one of the “high points” of the tournament.
“It took 38 matches for the first upset in the tournament, then two came along in a rush - and both from one team. Nepal had always seemed the likeliest side to cause a shock; they had an experienced team and a coach, Roy Dias, who knew Sri Lankan conditions inside out,” McGlashan writes.
Furthermore, the writer also applauds the manner in which Nepal defeated two strong teams to snatch the Plate championship trophy. “Manner of their wins was what brought the competition to life. South Africa needed 16 off two overs with six wickets in hand, but Nepal 's bowlers held their nerve. If that was impressive enough, the Plate final was incredible. At 75 for 6, chasing 205, most people thought the game was up - except the ones who mattered, Nepal . Basant Regmi played the game of his life, scoring 66 and taking three wickets, as they squeezed home with two balls and one wicket left. The wild scenes of celebration were a joy to watch - as was the dancing in the hotel that evening,” he writes.
Along with writers like McGlashan , Nepal ’s remarkable display in Colombo has enthralled many. “ New Zealand suffered the indignity of losing to international lightweights Nepal in the plate final at the under-19 cricket World Cup in Sri Lanka yesterday. Nepal , who recorded a shock win over South Africa in a semifinal 24 hours earlier, inflicted a second deep wound to the pride of the established cricketing nations by beating New Zealand by one wicket with two balls to spare in Colombo ,” wrote another writer.
Even though Nepal was defeated by England and Zimbabwe in the first round because of which it could not proceed to the cup championship – which was later bagged by last year’s defender Pakistan – the youngsters of Nepal held their nerves to win against Uganda, South Africa and New Zealand to add the biggest feather in their cap yet.
In 2002, too, Nepal had reached the finals of the Plate championship but had lost to Zimbabwe then.
After the historic win Roy Dias, Nepal ’s Sri Lankan coach, said: “After the 2002 final it is just great that we have got across the line – for the players and the country. People will celebrate a lot because it is very important for Nepal . We have beaten two Test-playing nations and that’s a great achievement for the youngsters as they can now believe in themselves.” (The Himalayan Times daily)
The U 19 world cup is said to be an important even in international cricket scene. It is also known as a conveyor belt of sorts that keeps on producing talented youngsters who graduate to the national team of their respective countries. Yubaraj Singh and Virendar Sehwag of India are two such youngsters who had graduated with flying colors at their national level after their remarkable display at U 19 level.
By successfully playing in the international competitive cricket, Nepal has shown every possibility of being able to play in ICC World Cup in near future. But for now, the country and its players have more immediate task in hand – that of maintaining their reputation that they have earned through hard work and sheer dedication and determination. With an able coach like Roy Dias who has been on their side for the past many years, Nepalese players can expect to move by leaps and bounds.
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