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Kathmandu Saturday October 06, 2001 Ashwin 20, 2058.
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Of weak batting worries and players' plea
By Somesh Verma
KATHMANDU, Oct 5 – As the four cricket grounds of the valley gets
facelift for the approaching eight-nation Youth Asia Cup Cricket tournament, the cricket
fans wonder: Will Nepal make it to the Youth World Cup encore?
Optimism pervades this time too. And the Nepali colts, who will have to
execute everybody’s hopes in the field, seem pretty confident.
However, a few apprehensions remain. With the championship just over a week
away, the coaches face a problem. Samson Jung Thapa, one of the coaches looking over the
team, says that weak batting is cause for concern.
"So far, we perceive batting as our weak point," says Thapa adding
that the colts, unlike the seniors, show the intent to stay on the crease for long.
"They like to stay on the wicket for longer, which should be taken positively."
Roy Dias, Sri Lankan coach for Nepal under the Asian Cricket Council’s
(ACC) development program, too intend to address the team’s batting.
"Our batting needs a lot of improvement," Dias says,
"we’re trying to make the boys understand the importance of singles in the
innings.
"There is too little time to change the style of the boys, that’s
why I’m trying to tell them to stick to basics while on the crease."
The positive side, as Dias — a veteran of 20 Test matches and 58 One-Day
Internationals— points out, is that the boys are keen learners.
"They have shown the willingness to learn and we have some batsmen who
are capable of strokeplay. Probably, our plan for the tournament would be to see that one
of our frontline batsmen anchor the innings and the strokeplayers keep supporting
him," reveals Dias—who once, alongwith Duleep Mendis, formed the backbone of the
Sri Lankan batting line up—about his strategies for the tournament.
Thapa, who took charge of the boys soon after the selection last month, says
that the bowling
and fielding of the team has, so far, been consistent. "The boys have shown a lot of
discipline with the ball and our fielding is also upto the mark."
Dias, who has watched the boys during the practice matches, seems content.
"We have a formidable bowling attack and a good fielding side, so we should be able
to give every opponent a run for their money."
The boys, though having a butterfly in their stomach on playing against
foreign teams in their own backyard, beg everyone to stay out of tension and count on
their young shoulders.
Lakpa Lama, selected as the left arm spinner in the squad of 18, says that
they would be taking the matches as they come; one at a time. "Our initial target
should be to get through to the second round."
"We can’t win the trophy without advancing to the next round, you
know," Lama shies.
The players apart from enjoying each other’s company also have firm
belief in their captain, Binod Das—a man whom they would be looking for inspiration
due to his previous international experience.
That instantly led Dias to understand they are a perfect unit, regardless of
the various backgrounds. This may well be the compliment to inspire the team when the
tournament starts on October 11. |
