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Kathmandu Monday October 08, 2001 Ashwin 22, 2058.
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Nepal, Oman to meet in Youth
Asia Cup 2001 opener
Post Report
KATHMANDU, Oct 7 – Nepal will take on Oman
in their Pool B match of the third Youth Asia Cup 2001 at the Tribhuvan University ground
on October 11, the tournament organising committee announced at a press meet on Sunday.
The opening day’s programme will also
feature Pool A matches between Malaysia and Kuwait in the Pool A at the Engineering
Institute ground A, and United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar at the ground B.
Likewise, Singapore and Maldives will face off
in the Pool B on the same day at the St Xavier’s School ground.
Talking to reporters on the occasion, Sultan
Rana, the tournament director, expressed satisfaction over preparations for the
tournament.
"Things are going in the desired direction
as for now," said Rana, admitting that he had doubts ‘whether CAN could manage
the whole event or not’ at the time of his last visit here in July.
"I appreciate CAN for putting in lots of
hard work to bring the stadia to the present form."
Jai Kumar Nath Shah, president of Cricket
Association of Nepal (CAN) and secretary of the tournament main organising committee,
hoped that the tournament would help to improve cricket in Nepal.
Binod Shanker Palikhe, member-secretary of
National Sports Council (NSC) and the tournament main organising committee, giving details
on the tournament’s organisation said that the total cost is estimated at Rs 4.5
million would be met through the aid from Asian Cricket Council (ACC), NSC resources and
sponsorships.
"The expenses that account for the lodging
and travel of players and technical officials will be paid by ACC," said Palikhe.
He also announced that there will be no entry
fee for the spectators. "However, the Free Students Union of the Engineering
Institute are planning to issue tickets to raise funds for the maintenance of the grounds
there," he said.
The winner of the 8-day tournament will qualify
for the Youth World Cup due to be held in New Zealand February next year.
The first Youth Asia Cup was held in Hong Kong
in 1997. Nepal finished as the runners-up in the plate-final — the play off match
between the two losing semifinalists. Nepal finished runners-up to Bangladesh in the
second edition that took place in Singapore in 1999, thereby qualifying for the Youth
World Cup, held in Sri Lanka earlier last year.
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