Our politics has depressed us for so long. However, the under-19 cricket team, playing the ICC U19 Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh, has excited the country. Nepali team's impressive victories against mighty New Zealand (a test playing nation) and Ireland paved a way for the Super League stage for the second time in the history of the World Cup. Nepal will play its last match of the group against India today. This is indeed a proud moment for all of us, and shows a bright future of cricket in Nepal. Cricket giants around the world are impressed with the performance of Nepali team.The team's practice for the big competition in Bangladesh was often punctuated by the ongoing economic blockade. The indoor nets facility at Tribhuban University International Cricket Ground was destroyed by last year's earthquake. Moreover, the economic blockade hampered their routine practice due to lack of diesel to run bowling machines. Cricket ball price shot up in the market and the team asked friends and officials visiting India to bring back balls home.
Interestingly, the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) stepped up to support Team Nepal. They hosted the Nepali team for trainings prior to the World Cup. Nepal spent two weeks in India and played practice games against local cricket academy. The tour boosted the morale of the team. This was, however, not the first time India hosted Nepali U-19 cricket team. Nepal also benefited from the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers held in Malaysia last year.
The results produced by Nepali team have been celebrated and praised by big cricketing nations, and great names in the field are eagerly waiting for more stunning results from Team Nepal.
While we celebrate the triumphs, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has been embroiled in political infightings for a while now. Their promise to build an international stadium in Mulpani began long before some of the players of our U-19 were even born. However, we have not seen substantial progress on that front.
Even Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground has not been well maintained and that has forced the International Cricket Council (ICC) to shift the venue for a tournament that was supposed to be held in Nepal. Very recently, CAN was not able to host Papua New Guinea after failing ICC's required standards. Moreover, the crisis inside CAN has also forced private investors to stay away from investing in the sport that our country loves dearly.
The U-19 team has displayed what our young generation of sports heroes are capable of. The state has to get its act together to support the overall development of cricket in Nepal. Cricket has the promise to uplift our spirit and unify a deeply wounded nation.
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