Asia Cup: Will Nepali Colts shine ?

There are opportunities   galore   for   our   youngsters who are dreaming of making it big in the world of cricket.  With the opportunity comes the challenge, and they have shown to the world what they are capable of doing, time and time again.

The world got a   true glimpse of our cricketers’ potential back in the 2002 ICC Under-19 World Cup held in New Zealand, following their   stunning wins   over Pakistan and Bangladesh. And   they narrowly failed to advance to the super league stage.

However, they reached the Plate Final, and despite   defeat to Zimbabwe they had done enough   to deserve high praise from all quarters for what they achieved. 

Four years later they went a notch   further   in the same competition held in Sri Lanka. They   surprised the international cricketing   community by winning the Plate Championship at the   expense of New Zealand.

The   win   over the Kiwis was a stunner and convinced   skeptics   that the success in New Zealand   was not a flash in the pan. That was not the end.

They   repeated   the feat   in   Ireland last year to finish behind Scotland and thus qualified for the final stage of the championship scheduled in Australia later this year. The youngsters played with great aplomb throughout the competition.  

Besides, we have had success in other age groups as well, over the years.  Whatever our cricketers have achieved to date has come through their commitment and   sheer hard work.  They have toiled and worked diligently to get where they are today.

Once again   the youngsters are all geared up to take on another challenge in Malaysia. The ACC Under-19 Asia Cup provides them an ideal opportunity to show case their talent and what they are capable of doing.

They are up against two perennial powerhouses   India and Pakistan. Malaysia is the fourth team in the competition. The boys have to play their best to have any chance in the tournament. In addition, it is imperative that they peak form individually and as a team.

Players must bear in mind they have nothing   to lose against the Asian giants, and  they  need   to play confidently, positively   and with  poise  to  make a  real challenge  for  the  championship title. In sports anything is possible.

I am confident we can do it. We have done it before, and I don’t see why it cannot be done again. I hope they come on top and deliver the goods when it matters.

It’s very   discouraging   to note despite the surge in popularity of   cricket in the country   and   our accomplishments, nothing much seems to have changed.

Nepali cricket   continues down its path of uncertain and rocky transition.  Like any national  sport association, politicization of   Cricket  Association of Nepal (CAN) has increased manifold, in recent  years, and this has resulted in stagnation of the sport at all levels.

There are no indications that    the   current   administration headed by Tanka Angbhunag is into serious business   to turn things around.  Like his predecessors, he has been long on words and short on action so far. What a shame.

Hats off to our cricketers for their sacrifice, patriotism and sticking with the game despite the most challenging and difficult circumstances imaginable.