Team: Avail this opportunity by all means possible

The national cricket team of   Nepal   find themselves on the   fringe   of   a 2014 ICC Twenty20 World Cup place in Bangladesh. They stand   an excellent   chance of qualification and  making history.

They have two   great opportunities to get the job done. Should   they succeed   it   will go down in the country’s history as the greatest sporting achievement to date. Everyone is   anticipating with baited breath   the moment.

Hopefully we get to rejoice and celebrate. That being said, they   need to make the most of this opportunity to   attain success. They cannot afford to squander the   golden opportunity. I say, avail this chance by all means possible.

The big question   is, can they do it?  Time will tell.  We will have to wait and see how the drama unfolds. Also let us keep our fingers crossed and hope for the very   best.

I   feel   very optimistic about Nepal’s chances. Without a doubt, our cricketers   are well positioned and have the   best chance to win the playoffs. Odds of Team Nepal winning look pretty good.

Nepal concluded the group matches with   mixed results (four wins and three defeats) to finish third. They barely finished ahead of Scotland with a similar record, largely to the rule that was   applied to determine which team takes the higher position in the standings.

Now   Team   Nepal is ready to take on   old foe Hong Kong in the crucial and decisive first playoff match. The team that wins will seal a place in the final round of the competition.

The losing team, however, gets yet another lifeline   against Namibia or Papua New Guinea. Nepal and Hong Kong renew their   old rivalry when they lock horns on Wednesday for the all important tie.

The two teams  know each other well over the years. Prior to the upcoming match the two have  played each other on  ten occasions. Nepal has a slight edge over the unpredictable Hong Kong in terms of winning percentage. They have  

won 6, while Hong Kong 4.

Going by the   head-to-head analysis of the clash between the two teams, a very thin layer separates them.  Expect the clash to be a thriller.

If Nepal’s performance during the   group competition was/is any indication, they still have some work to do. There are areas that   they need to work on.

There   has been a distinct lack of consistency in both batting and bowling.  In other words, they have  struggled to strike  a consistent  chord.

It is vitally important for players   to hold their nerve, maintain focus, composure, drive, confidence and display the kind of commitment that can help the team win.

As such there is no room for complacency or loose play in a game of this magnitude. Equally important is sticking to  the game plan and to avoid   getting caught off guard.

Coach Pubudu Dassanayake s boys   must seize   the opportunity to   shine, make the most of it.  In short, every team member necessarily must contribute to the overall success of the team.

Skipper Paras Khadka and other senior players have to lead by example, keep the team together and bring the best out of junior team members.

The qualification of Team Nepal   will be a defining moment in the history of Nepal cricket. We look forward with optimism and I hope they can translate it into   reality.