SPORTS

Kathmandu Wednesday October 24, 2001 Kartik 08,  2058.

Cricketers’ fabulous Bijaya Dashami gift to nation

For Nepal and Nepalis, who had very little or nothing to cheered about all throughout this year, October 18 unfolded as a red letter day. It was when the country’s cricketers presented a special gift –U-19 Youth Asia Cup title. As this gesture befittingly came on the very eve of Bijaya Dashami, it, therefore, must be rejoiced and celebrated by all. And why not?

We are in another World Cup

Nepal is on the verge of entering big time cricket. Over the past five years or so there has been a tremendous leap forward. All the natural endowments such as location, climate and natural beauty were already there in our country. Adding to these, successes in international competitions, specially noteworthy performance of our U-19 boys in the last World Cup in Sri Lanka and the successful organisation of the second ACC Trophy in 1998 and the Legends Cup a year later. Those events speak volume of our ability to host international tournament of any proportion and magnitude. And given due weight and value by the cricket fraternity, they will certainly enhance the image of our cricket and the nation as a whole.

There were doubts over our performance and ability to host the Youth Asia Cup 2001 when we were entrusted to hold the event. But as things would unfold, we have proved and convinced that not only is the tiny Himalayan Kingdom able to perform but is also capable enough to organise such events. And having successfully organised the tournament with US$ 160,000 – what many claimed a meager amount earlier on – we have definitely send encouraging and positive message to the international cricket authority.

Credit must also go to our boys. They have not only comprehensively beaten all the opposition in the tournament, but also emphatically achieved this feat in qualifying for the successive World Cups. Just imagine beating Oman by 9 wickets, Singapore by 7 wickets and Maldives 251 runs in the group matches and UAE by 106 runs in the semi-final. Topping them all was our all convincing, all pervading and all conquering performance of beating Malaysia by 7 wickets in the final. It has sent our boys and our hearts to the World Cup in New Zealand in February 2002. This was indeed, the icing on the cake itself.

Shakti Gauchan’s brilliant hundred followed by a half century and a batting average of 57, a record by Nepali batsman against all international oppositions and spectacular bowling performance by little wizard Man of the Series Lakpa Lama taking 15 wicket in the tournament enabled us to be established in the international cricket map and paved a way for our cricket towards the Sagarmatha of international cricket.

These brilliant performances have not emerged out of nowhere. Sacrifices of immense proportions by the cricket administrators of Nepal and, in particular, by Sri Lankan coaches who galvanized our team for the magnificent achievement must be duly honoured. First of all, Rumesh Ratnayake’s contribution and finally Roy Dias’ sacrifice must be praised and hailed. The former for going out of way from his development duties and the latter for the immense sacrifice endured in his loss of a beloved family member. All cricket supporters and lovers must admire Roy’s courage and determination in carrying out his duties.

Let’s bear it

Roy tragically lost his father, mother and brother when he was on international tour duties for Sri Lanka playing test cricket. This time around, on October 9, 2001 when on duty as a coach to Nepal he lost his elder sister. Undeterred and unrelenting, he committed himself and fulfilled his mission in Nepal.

The epoch making moment of Thursday October 18, 2001 at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground traces its roots back to 1961 when our first ever national squad traveled to Calcutta followed by the visit to Bangkok. Participation in the ACC Trophy competitions in Malaysia in 1996, in Nepal in 1998 and UAE in 2000 exemplify Nepal’s growing stature at the international cricket. Our U-19 team’s participation started in Hong Kong in 1997 where we failed to qualify for the next round. However, our success in Singapore in 1999 confirmed the maturity of our cricket as we qualified for the U-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka.

Among the 24 International Cricket Council (ICC) Associate Members and innumerable Affiliate Members who have come under the umbrella of ICC through its Globalizations Plan, Nepal has, in real terms, outstood them and moved into the foremost and prestigious "fast track" nation of Asia. Both in playing and organizing abilities, we, in no uncertain ways, must have convinced the world body that we are the next best destination for the game, that is, the Himalayan Destination of cricket. All round participation, cooperation, support and effort will take us there. When ICC is looking for neutral grounds for matches between some Test playing countries, the possibility of Nepal becoming a venue for such event is highly enhanced.

It cannot definitely be denied that our beloved cricket team faces an uphill task in the beginning of next year in the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand. As Bob Simpson, the famous Australian captain and one of the members of the "Club 300", undergoing an stint with our boys in 1997 wisely advised us not to expect too much, and so very rightly has the current national coach Roy Dias.

Locking horns with cricket’s 10 giants is an honour in itself but beating them is totally different proposition. The best we can hope is the repeat performance of Sri Lanka U-19 World Cup and a little bit more from the triumphant team of Nepali cricketers of Youth Asia Cup, 2001.

(The writer is member of Cricket Association of Nepal)