The Nepali squad left for England to prepare for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers scheduled to take place in Ireland and Scotland from July 9-26. Nepal is also scheduled to play two List A matches of the ICC World Cricket League Championship against Scotland on July 29 and 31.
Nepal will play four practice matches in England against local clubs and move to the Netherlands where it will play four T20 Internationals against the host from June 30 to July 3.
After the Netherlands tour, Nepal will leave for Ireland where it will play warm-up matches against Oman and the UAE on July 6 and 7 before the qualifiers.
The team just spent around two weeks in Dharamsala, India, for closed camp training and played four 20-overs matches against Himachal Pradesh.
CAN Acting President Deepak Koirala and Dassanayake signed the contract paper, which confirmed that Dassanayake will be with the Nepali team till December 31, during the farewell program organized in Kathmandu. His contract was about to end on July 15.
CAN had decided to extend Dassanayake's tenure till December during its third annual general meeting.
CAN Acting President Koirala said that the cricket governing body extended his contract after consulting the Ministry of Youth and Sports (MoYS).
Although Dassanyake said that he was happy for being with the Nepali team for a few more months, he hinted that he would rethink about his future after the qualifiers.
"It is tough for me to decide my future to the team when my contact gets extended by short time. My main priority is the qualifiers and after that I want to move on with my personal life. However, I am happy with the contract," said Dassanyake.
Farewell to Nepali team
Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Tuesday bade farewell to the 21-member member team during a function at Hotel Crown Plaza, Naxal.
ANFA extends Koji’s contract as Head Coach
Minister for Irrigation N P Saud, CAN acting president Koirala, MoYS secretary Dipendra Nath Sharma and others were present at the program.
Meanwhile, Minister Saud informed that the government is all set to endorse the work procedures regarding prizes among others prepared for different games.
He also claimed that all the problems seen in Nepali sports will be sort out if there will be proper co-ordinations among MoYS, National Sports Council and Nepal Olympic Committee.
Likewise, MoYS secretary Sharma informed that the ministry has prepared work plans regarding prize distribution for the winners of Olympics, Asian Games, South Asian Games and cricket separately. He also informed that MoYS is planning to allocate budget of Rs 2 to 3 million for the purpose.
During the same program, CAN acting president Koirala said that the cricket governing body would provide Rs 250,000 to each member of the team if it qualifies for next year's World Cup.
Team optimistic about finishing top
After the farewell program, team coach Dassanayake and skipper Paras Khadka vowed that team wanted to finish top in the qualifiers.
Coach Dassanayeke believes that his side will win the qualifiers.
"We are looking to win the tournament," said Dassanayake, adding, "I want Nepal to become number one associate member in the world."
Similarly, skipper Paras said that team is all prepared to play in the qualifiers.
"We want to finish top in the qualifiers," said Paras, who added that all team members are fit.
Meanwhile, CAN has included Avinash Karna in the team. According to CAN, Avinash will be with the team for preparation and play T20 matches against Netherlands.
Similarly, CAN is set to send Mahesh Chhetri to England for training. Mahesh will be with Cornwall Cricket Club for two months training starting from July 1.
Naresh Shrestha is the team manager. Likewise, Pubudu Dassnayake is the head coach while former national team skipper Binod Kumar Das has been assigned as bowling coach and Monty Desai will be the batting coach of the team. Indian national Aijaz Ashai will accompany the team as physiotherapist and Raman Shiwakoti has been given duty of technical analyst.
Nepali squad:
Paras Khadka (captain), Pradeep Airee, Binod Bhandari, Shakti Gauchan, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Subash Khakurel, Siddhant Lohani, Gyanendra Malla, Anil Mandal, Jitendra Mukhiya, Rajesh Pulami, Sagar Pun, Basant Regmi, Sharad Vesawkar.
-1200x560-1779450784.webp)
