2015 saw coach’s departure, controversy and poor on-the-field record in Nepali cricket
KATHMANDU, Dec 31: The departure of much respected coach Pubudu Dassanayake took the center stage in Nepali cricket while poor on-the-field performance by the national team, internal conflict within the cricket governing body and the qualification of the youth team for the ICC U-19 World Cup were the other major highlights of the year.
Dassanayake, who guided the national team to Nepal's biggest achievement - maiden ICC World T20 in 2014 - resigned from his post on November. His poor relation with the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), below par performance of the national team in international tournaments and the internal conflict within CAN were the major factors that culminated in his resignation.
Cricket craze
Nepal earned and lost its Twenty20 International status within a span of one year. In June 2014, Nepal was granted the T20I status, which became effective from October. However, a disastrous performance in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers held in Ireland and Scotland in July took the gloss off the success. Nepal finished bottom of Group A comprising of seven teams and eventually lost the T20I status.
Nepal earned a spot in the ICC World Cricket League Championship finishing fourth in the ICC World Cricket League Division 2 held in Namibia in January but failed to secure a place in the ICC Intercontinental Cup which required top two finish.
Nepal's poor form continued in the ICC World Cricket League Championship as well as it lost all four matches it played. Nepal lost both leg matches against Scotland in July and also against Papua New Guinea in November held in the UAE.
Youth cricket into World Cup
The U-19 national cricket team secured place in the ICC U-19 World Cup. Nepal claimed the title of the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers beating Ireland in the final held in Malaysia in October and booked place for the youth world cup to be held from January 22 to February 14.
Nepal also finished runner-up in the ACC U-19 Premier League held in Malaysia in August and September. The age-group team lost its only match against Afghanistan to finish runner-up and brought something to cheer for the Nepali cricket fraternity.
Leisure to women cricket
Nepali women cricketers spent most of their time in leisure rather than on the pitch as they had few domestic fixtures and no international tours. Region No 7 (Janakpur) claimed the title of the Prime Minister Cup Women's T20 National Cricket Tournament in June. Janakpur overcame departmental giant Armed Police Force (APF) during the title decider in June.
Women cricketers had to go through a harrowing experience in February. Six girl cricketers of Region No 3 (Kathmandu) and the team coach were injured in a road accident at Chhaimale in Pharping, Kathmandu while they were heading for Sarlahi from Kathmandu to participate in the Inter-school Girls' National Cricket Tournament.
Tarini Bikram Shah dies
CAN acting President Tarini Bikram Shah died in February due to liver cancer. Shah, himself a former cricketer, was the longest-serving president of CAN for almost four decades and was the former president of Parsa District Cricket Association.
Controversies surround CAN round the year
As in the previous year, CAN was not free from controversy and internal disputes in 2015 as well. The most controversial issues in the cricket governing body was, and still is, its general assembly (election) held in the capital on December 14 and 15. The general assembly elected a 17-member executive committee under the leadership of Chatur Bahadur Chand, despite objections from the National Sports Council (NSC) and the then president Tanka Angbuhang.
The NSC objected the move as it was planning to form a new cricket board to replace CAN with the backing of former President Aungbuhang. The new committee was elected during midnight after disputes between two sides quarrelling in favor of and against the election.
The election was held soon after the Special Court acquitted President Angbuhang along with 18 others related to the cricket governing body from corruption charges in November.
The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority had charged former president Angbuhang, vice-presidents Chatur Bahadur Chand, Sunil Man Amatya and Binod Kumar Mainali, General Secretary Ashko Nath Pyakurel, Treasurer Raj Babu Shrestha among other of irregularities.
No national selection games for international tournament
Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) failed to organize the national selection games for international tournaments. Players were picked up for the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers based on the performance of the 50-over national tournament held in Kathmandu.
Nepal also played four List A (50-over) matches of the ICC World Cricket League Championship without proper national selection games. CAN just completed its formality by organizing a league where some of the selected players got opportunity to feature in. Similarly, CAN organized a training camp with few handpicked players rather than hosting selection tournament for the ACC U-19 Premier League and ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers.
