Nepali Colts fly high in Ireland

Good   bye   Ireland.  See   you   Australia next year. This   is   the   success story of Nepal’s  Under- 19 cricketers in the World Cup   qualifiers   that   wrapped up in Ireland recently. 

At   a   time   when   there is so much   gloom and doom in   Nepali   sports, our young   cricketers   have proven that all is not lost. That   is one   heck   of   an accomplishment   and   at least keeps   our   sporting dreams alive.

Our   young   colts triumph was compelling and powerful. In   the   ten team competition with 12 points they finished a commendable second   behind Scotland. They concluded the event   with seven impressive victories and two defeats.

The loss to Canada   by   a   solitary run eventually proved the spoiler for us.  The   setback   against the   North American   opposition   was   a   pure case of   lethargy and   recklessness.  In contrast     against a formidable   Scottish   side   we   went   down   fighting.

Despite a few hiccups the boys   not  only  held their nerves  but  displayed  great  consistency  and competitiveness to  sign off the  championship in flying colors.

By and large it was a   superb concerted team effort marked with individual brilliance. Bowlers   Rahul  Vishvakarma  stood tall  and finished   the championship with an incredible  21 wickets, and pacers Krishna Karki and  Avinash  Karki  contributed handsomely as well.

Similarly, Naresh Budhayair , Pradeep Aiyer and  Sagar Pun  stole the batting honor. Coach Jagat Tamata   did a superb job  and his  inspirational leadership was instrumental   in the team’s  success.

Come next year they head to Australia for the grand finale and   face   a much, much   bigger challenge.  The young lads have   a  platform   where they have the opportunity  to  showcase their potential against the best of the best cricketing countries in the world.

It is very important that   both players and the coaching staff  waste no time to  get  back into serious  preparation. Evidently there are  grey  areas aplenty  to take care of before the big event. There is ample time   to prepare the team in the right way, no doubt.

Speaking of   preparation it is hoped that    Cricket   Association of Nepal (CAN)  does  not   follow the trail of  All Nepal Football  Association and overlook  its importance.  This is something   indispensable to   maintain the momentum   the   team    has   gathered .

Otherwise, it can  be  a  real struggle  for the boys considering the  quality of opponents they  take on  in Australia.  Nepal is in a   tough group   alongside   Australia, Ireland and England, and   indisputably   the team will require a mighty performance to   make a lasting impression.

CAN   must   lay   down   its   objectives for the tournament   and   have   the   team   work along those lines.  Long as the cricket body is able to motivate and   inspire  players , I am confident  of  a good result.  

We know what we have in terms of   sheer   talent ,   and  the  youngsters  have  risen to the occasion time and time again despite  demanding and taxing  circumstance. This is the fifth time   Nepal  has  made it to the  World Cup.

In retrospect    Nepal   established   herself   as   the new   kid  on the block in the last four World Cups. Apart   from   playing to  their  potential ,  they   have got the  better of Test -playing nations in the likes of South Africa, New Zealand, Bangladesh,  Pakistan and Zimbabwe, which  is a tremendous feat.

In the 2002   World Cup held in New   Zealand  the  team  hogged cricketing headlines internationally, following a stunning upset over Pakistan.

This   amply   speaks   volumes   of   our cricketing   prowess and   ability   to  deliver  the  goods. Given the right kind of environment, system, infrastructure, funding   and   management, coupled   with   strong   sponsorship   without a doubt we   can elevate ourselves to the highest level of the game.

That said, sadly, the matter of truth is   that we are not even close to it.  As   of now   the scenario is far from rosy and heartening.  Nonetheless, cricket has   barely   managed   to weather   the storm   largely because of   cricketers   and   cricket fraternity’s extraordinary    resolve   and   endeavor.

Certainly, Nepali cricket has come of   age   but   not   progress   and development wise.  Our record in the   junior   version of the   competition stands outstanding and impressive to speak of. But  the  same cannot be  said  about   the  national   team that  has  pretty  much struggled to  stamp its mark so far.

We   have   to   find   a   way to build the team since so much future   holds   for the game in the country. CAN   no   more continue  to  become a bystander and refrain from its responsibilities.