The Nepali national squad members, who won the ICC division five last year in the home ground, have their own favorite teams and a majority of them support the South Asian countries.[break]
National team captain Paras Khadka is, however, supporting Australia as they have good track record in the world cup. He thinks that South Africa and India will pose tough challenges to Australia. “I like to watch the games of Michael Clark as he is an all-rounder.”
Other squad members of the Nepali side have a different take. Four said they support India during the world cup. Fast bowler Binod Das, all-rounder Shakti Gauchan, spinner Rahul Viswakarma and Basanta Regmi are supporting India. They think that South Africa, Australia, Sri Lanka and England are tough contenders against India to be the favorite team.
All India supporters say Sachin Tendulkar is their favorite batsman while they have different choices for favorite bowlers. Das says that he likes watching the action of Brett Lee while Viswakarma prefers the spin of Harbhajan Singh. Regmi says his favorites are Daniel Vettori and Muttiah Muralitharan.
Regmi further added that the main reason he is supporting India this time is because the event is being held in South Asia. Gauchan argued that India has the home advantage and they are the probable champions of the trophy.
Nepali squad openers Anil Mandal and Mahesh Chhetri are supporting South Africa in the world cup. Wicket-keeper Chhetri says that Mark Boucher inspires him as he is a good keeper and middle order batsman. “Australia, India and Sri Lanka will be the headache for South Africa,” he said.
Mandal says the batting by Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag are quite good and fears that India will be a great threat for the team that he is supporting. “Indians are in good form and they are a threat for all world cup playing nations.”
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