The match was between Nepal U-19 and Pakistan U-19. The occasion: ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup and place: Christchurch, New Zealand. Date: January 22, 2002.
It was Pakistan´s Umar Gul (who recently took the highest number of wickets in the T20 world cup) who provided the breakthrough for Pakistan. Nepali batsmen were outsmarted by the spin duo of Kamran Sajid and Junaid Zia and in the process they shared 8 Nepali scalps among them. But a defiant no 3 Bardan Chalise toiled for 139 minutes to add 42 vital runs. The team was bowled out for 151 runs in 48.5 overs.
Pakistan came into the match with a batting lineup capable of making a mockery of any run chase “A meager 152 was not even perceived as a modest score let alone a challenging one”, says Gyawali. A journalist from Pakistan even told Gyawali to give up hope and watch his team plunder runs. Though Nepal lacked the fiery pace of the Pakistani quickies, their spin bowling was capable of wrecking the Pakistani batting order. When Nepal´s opponents realized this fact, it was too late.
Pakistan´s reply saw its captain Salman Butt (the stylish lefthander who has become a key member of the Pakistani national side) begin proceedings while Binod Das took the new ball. Bardan Chalise came back to effect a run out to provide the breakthrough for his team. In a mini contest between the captains, it was Das who got the better of Butt to get him caught behind of keeper Manoj Katuwal.
Nepali spinners Sanjam Regmi and Shaki Gauchan snared 3 wickets each. Pakistani players were left reeling at 118-9 with still 34 runs short of the target. Eventually the team was bowled out for a 121 off 45.4 overs.
“It was Bardan´s innings that provided a glimmer of hope for us”, Nepali national skipper and the then captain of U-19 team Binod Das reminisces. Back then Nepal were a bunch a nobodies in the international cricketing fraternity. “It was a giant leap for Nepali cricket. After that there was no looking back.”
The Nepali team received a hero´s welcome at home as they returned as runners up of the Plate Championship. In 2006 they were crowned Plate Champions by defeating New Zealand by 1 wicket in the final. Almost all of the players were part of the 2002 World Cup team have left cricket and only a handful remain. The success at the U-19 level could not be achieved at the senior level.
This time around, Nepal has even failed to qualify for the U-19 World Cup. Nepal has been defeated by Hong Kong and then Afghanistan. “We did not have a strong team. Afghanistan and Hong Kong have made rapid leaps and we have failed to do that”, he admits.
Related story
Making space for history
