ICC restores Nepal membership with conditions; Chand vows to comply

Published On: October 15, 2019 12:55 PM NPT By: SANJAY THAPA AND RAJAN SHAH


KATHMANDU, Oct 15: Nepal has been reinstated on a conditional basis by the International Cricket Council (ICC) following the completion of four-day board meetings held in Dubai on Monday.

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) was suspended on 2016 for breaching the ICC regulations which prohibit government interference and require free and fair elections. 

The ICC Chairman Shashank Manohar lauded the current progresses made in Nepali cricket and added that new governing body will have work as per the transitional plan to comply with membership criteria for the Associate nations which includes controlled funding from the apex body.


“Given the progress made in Nepal, a transition plan will now be developed for the Cricket Association of Nepal to support full compliance with Associate Membership criteria, which will also involve controlled funding.”

The election of the 17-member Central Working Committee for the CAN was completed earlier this month, which paved the way for the re-admittance of the Nepal’s cricket governing body.

The president of elected CAN, Chatur Bahadur Chand, was re-elected as the president on September 28. Chand defeated his rival Binay Raj Pandey during a Special General Assembly of the suspended CAN held in Kathmandu where Chand got 44 votes against Pandey’ 15.

The current president welcomed the reinstatement and termed the ICC’s decision as “a positive development for Nepali cricket”.

“I believe these conditions are based on administrative and financial operations moving forward. ICC has put those conditions for the betterment and development of Nepali cricket which I am very positive about,” said Chand in conversation with Republica.

“We have made plenty of sacrifices in past, agreed to all kinds of ICC conditions for reinstatement of CAN. Now that it has happened, we will comply further with ICC for the overall development of Nepali cricket,” added Chand.

He also informed that the CAN will receive the official letters in three days’ time. Ashok NathPyakurel was re-elected general secretary whereas Raj Babu Shrestha and Roshan Singh were elected as vice-president and treasures of the central governing body.

Similarly, Zimbabwe was also readmitted by the ICC Board following a meeting with the ICC Chairman and Chief Executive, Zimbabwe Cricket Chairman Tavengwa Mukuhlani and Zimbabwe Sports Minister Kirsty Coventry and Gerald Mlotshwa, the Chairman of the Sports and Recreation Commission. 

Zimbabwe was suspended in July 2019 following government interference in the running of the Board. Zimbabwe will now be able to take up its place in the ICC Men’s U19 Cricket World Cup in January and the ICC Super League later in 2020.

“I would like to thank the Zimbabwe Sports Minister for her commitment to the reinstatement of Zimbabwe Cricket. Her desire to work in support of Zimbabwe Cricket was clear and she has unconditionally complied with the conditions set down by the ICC Board,” added Manohar.

Likewise, another significant decision was taken during the meetings for the Associate Members.
The ICC Board has approved a $30.5 million funding allocation for Associate Members for 2020; a 12% like for like increase on 2019. 

The money, which will be distributed according to the Associate Member scorecard competition and grant model, will support all aspects of the development of the game in 92 associate countries focusing on participation and improving the competitiveness of international cricket.

 


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