Sen shines in Morang’s win

Post Report

BIRATNAGAR, March 31:Morang allrounder Mahesh Sen smashed unbeaten 61 runs and claimed four wickets to help his team register 9-wicket win over Jhapa in the ongoing Regional Cricket Selection tournament being held in local Saheed Stadium on Sunday.

Sen’s performance shadowed little squatter Lakpa Lama’s brilliant half century as Morang comfortably chased the 135 target posted by Jhapa when they won the toss and elected to bat first.

Besides Lama, youngster Dipesh Pokhrel contributed 22 runs while wicketkeeper Manoj Katuwal chipped in 18 runs as rest of Jhapa batsmen failed to stay long at the crease. Jhapa could only manage 134 runs in 39 overs.

Morang bowlers maintained good line and length to curb Jhapa batsmen. Promising cricketer Yunil Shrestha clinched three wickets while leg spinner Rajkumar Pradhan bagged one.

Chasing a small target, Morang comfortably reached the target in 20 overs. Opener Anish Aryal also smashed a scintillating 53 runs and remained unbeaten.

At Jute Mill cricket ground, Sarbajit Pandey picked up five wickets to guide Sunsari to a comfortable 8-wicket victory over Saptari as the loser could only score 145 runs in 24 overs after electing to bat first. Sailendra Khadka topscored with 28 runs and allrounder Mehaboob Alam made 23 runs for Saptari as rest of the batsmen failed to cope Sunsari bowler in general and Pandey in particular. Ramesh Regmi and Indra Aryal scalped two wickets each. In their run-chase, Sunsari’s star player Manjeet Shrestha scored unbeaten 67 runs with support from Raju KC (35) to reach the target safely in 20 overs.

Meanwhile, the rest of the matches of the tournament hang in limbo after the District Sports Development Committee (DSDC) handed over the Saheed Stadium for Mela from coming Sunday. The DSDC has provided the ground for the Mela organiser Relation Nepal on Rs 111,000 lease. "Lack of quality ground in Biratnagar forced us to stop the tournament for the time being," said Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) member Narendra Shrestha to The Kathmandu Post.

Pokhara destined to allure more visitors

By Suman Malla

KATHMANDU, March 31:In the evening of October 10 last year, the Minister for Education and Sports Amod Prasad Upadhyay, while inaugurating the Youth Asia Cup Cricket tournament, had some inspiring words on promotion of the game in Nepal: "We are looking into the ways to promote the popularity of the game and develop Nepal as an important venue."

His assurance could not have come at more appropriate time as the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), following a meeting in Kolkata, had assigned several of its development officers to Nepal. ACC was looking for a suitable site for the establishment of a Youth Cricket Academy in the region.

Three countries – Nepal, Malaysia and the United Arab Emirates – were in sight of ACC for the establishment of ACC’s Youth Academy. Adding to what the officials here claim: a strong ‘culture of cricket’ that most other minor countries lack, bonus of being strategically situated in South Asia – a geopolitical plus, visiting cricket officials had all praise for the country’s mild weather condition.

Rumesh Ratnayake, one of ACC Development Officers who was on inspection visit of Pokhara at the time of the ACC Youth Cup, had reiterated similar lines of Bob Simpson, former Australian national team coach. "I have no doubt that Pokhara would produce the most stunning TV shots of any ground in the world," said Ratnayake, former Sri Lankan Test bowler.

However, he had reflected concerns that the region’s cricket officials had over Nepal at that time. "Nepal should put up a proper league format to address players’ lack of competitiveness before the international community counts Nepal seriously."

Even as the local cricket administrators tried to convince the visiting ACC officials, Nepali cricketers primed the pomp. They sent a strong message to ACC, outwitting Malaysia in the final to make it through to the U-19 World Cup in New Zealand and apparently the vote for the academy.

Any doubts that remained over Nepal’s potential faded away when Nepali cricketers, putting in a string of intrepid performances made it all the way to plate championship final only to fail against the eventual winners Zimbabwe. While the nation cherished the country’s unprecedented success in cricket, ACC rewarded Nepal the biggest present, declaring Pokhara for its Youth Academy.

Nepali U-19 team’s performances have caught the imagination of international cricket cricle," said Jay Kumar Nath Shah, president of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). "ACC’s decision to set up its Youth Academy in Pokhara will further encourage Nepal to take up the cudgel for cricket."

According to Shah, Nepal would receive US$ 800,000 initially from the Asian Cricket Foundation (ACF) for the project devoted to improve the standard of the game in non-Test playing countries like Singapore, Malaysia, Hong Kong, Nepal, UAE, Thailand, Oman, Qatar and Kuwait.

ACF, an arm of ACC formed to execute plans and generate funds for the development of the game, has earmarked a budget of US $2.5 million for development programmes in the region for the first year.

As everywhere else in the country, cricket lovers live up with a question: Will this project be just as sought by ACC?

However, CAN secretary Binay Raj Pandey’s pleasant voice suggest that there is nothing to worry about. "Although we are yet to strike the final agreement, everything is going smoothly," he said. "Both Sports Ministry and National Sports Council have been real source of help."

Pandey said officials at NSC have agreed to allocate land for the project allowing it for unrestrictedly use. "We have asked ACC to confirm on exact area of land that would be required for the purpose before signing MoU," he said.

He also informed that ACC has envisaged an academy in the lines of world renowned academies of Australia and South Africa, adding that the final documentation would be ready by the time the regions cricket officials meet at ICC meeting in London in June. "ACC might appoint a consultant for the purpose. Works would start on full phase in 5-6 months’ time."

All said, Pokhara, a tourist town resting in the Annapurna range of the himalayas, with world-class cricket facilities promised by ACC, is longing for a good quality and an attractive allure for cricket tourists in future.