The 18 members of the closed-camp training for the World Cricket League Division 4 scheduled for August, excluding former captain Binod Das and Sharad Vesawkar who could not attend due to personal work, organized a press meet to make their announcement. [break]
“We will not play the national league,” captain Paras Khadka said. “However, we will continue with the training for the WCL Div 4 as it is important for the development of cricket in the country.”
The players criticized CAN officials for their indifference toward the development of cricket. The players asked them to either work honestly for the development of cricket or quit.
Citing the last decade as a golden period for Nepali cricket in terms of international achievement, the players said, "A good base is not there for producing young cricketers in the country".
“Our main agenda is to save Nepali cricket and we are giving up everything for it including jobs and education. There is no communication between players and officials,” the players said.
“There is no future for cricket players after they retire from cricket and officials have not taken any initiative to secure them a future and make cricket professional,” Khadka vented his ire, adding that even during their playing days, cricketers do not get anything substantial.
“Though national tournaments get sponsored, the players themsleves do not get anything. If asked why, CAN says that all the money was spent in organizing the event,” the players said.
“Unless senior cricket is developed in the country there can´t be any development in cricket,” they added. “Same cricket players have been playing for the national team for a decade and many of them including talents like Kanishka Chaugain have left in search of better opportunities.”
“It is no secret that there is a rift among CAN officials,” they further said. ”We can hardly find one or two officials at CAN during office time, and they can only give their time after 5 p.m. How can such people work for the development of cricket?” the players asked.
“CAN takes everything for granted,” the players said. They also demanded more tournaments and decentralization of cricketing activities.
Senior national player Dipendra Chaudhary opined that the regional team would be financially strong if CAN allowed them to search for sponsors.
Similarly, vice captain Gyanendra Malla said that a player is not selected for the national team unless he shows good performance, and officials should also leave the squad if they cannot perform.
Men´s T20 postponed
CAN has postponed the Pepsi T20 Men´s National League Cricket Tournament that was set to begin Saturday.
Region No 1 Biratnagar were scheduled to play against Region No 5 Nepalgunj in the first match of the day and Region No 2 Birgunj were scheduled to play against Region No 3 Kathmandu in the second match.
The women´s tournament starting from Saturday will however go on as per the schedule.
Meanwhile, CAN has expressed concern over the press meet organized by the players of the national squad. Issuing a press statement, CAN said that such activities by players hamper the development of cricket in the nation.
“Despite holding formal discussion with CAN and directly speaking to the press is against the culture and ethics of Nepali cricket. Such activities have negative effects on the development of cricket. CAN regrets such acts of players,” the press release states.
Despite limited resources, CAN is fully committed to the development of cricket and players´ welfare, the release states. It has also appealed to new generation players to become serious and be disciplined for the development of cricket.
Related story
Three parties to boycott elections in Arghakhanchi
