KATHMANDU, JUN 01 - The national cricket team on Sunday set forth for an ambitious journey of making their second consecutive appearance in the ICC World Twenty20 beginning with a 15-day preparation tour of India.
The Nepali team’s tour of India comes courtesy the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which is facilitating the contingent with the facilities at the HPCA Cricket Stadium in Dharmashala. The team’s expense will be borne by the BCCI which had committed to help Nepal for the preparation of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers, to be held in Ireland and Scotland from July 9-27, after their facilities at the hometown were destroyed by the April 25 Great Quake.
As the whole country is battling to recover from the massive earthquake that has left Nepal devastated killing more than 8500 and causing a widespread destruction, the cricketers would look to give their every bit in healing the wounds by securing a place in the World Twenty20.
Coach Pubudu Dassanayake believes a spot in the World Twenty20 will mean a lot to Nepal at such hard times and his side will do everything to achieve it. “We made history by making a maiden appearance in the World Twenty20 last year but reaching thereagain will have a greater significance this time,” Dassanayake told The Kathmandu Post.
“We have seen the devastation caused by the earthquake and how people are trying to get back to their feet. The country has been in a state of mourning and qualifying for the World Twenty20 is the best thing we could do for the entire nation,” added the coach. The massive 7.8M tremor on April 25 and another big 7.3M aftershock on May 12, however, has already played its part to affect Nepal’s preparation.
Unlike the preparations made for the previous Qualifiers, Nepal have very short time (just over one month) to fine-tune themselves for the big event. However, Dassanayake is confident his squad will be able to win the race against time. Apart from undergoing rigorous training at the HPCA, Nepal will also play at least two matches against the local teams before returning to Nepal to prepare for a trip to England.
“We are scheduled to play three matches in England against some of the tough clubs there and also have three Twenty20 matches against Netherlands in their home ground. Another two warm-up games before the Qualifiers will see us playing at least 10 games. We shall have no problem regarding our preparation,” said Dassanayake.
Nepal will return from India on June 20 and head to England three days later for their second phase of preparation which will be followed by a trip to the Netherlands that will see them play three Twenty20 matches.Nepal eager to heal Great Quake wound
KATHMANDU, JUN 01 - The national cricket team on Sunday set forth for an ambitious journey of making their second consecutive appearance in the ICC World Twenty20 beginning with a 15-day preparation tour of India.
The Nepali team’s tour of India comes courtesy the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) which is facilitating the contingent with the facilities at the HPCA Cricket Stadium in Dharmashala. The team’s expense will be borne by the BCCI which had committed to help Nepal for the preparation of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers, to be held in Ireland and Scotland from July 9-27, after their facilities at the hometown were destroyed by the April 25 Great Quake.
As the whole country is battling to recover from the massive earthquake that has left Nepal devastated killing more than 8500 and causing a widespread destruction, the cricketers would look to give their every bit in healing the wounds by securing a place in the World Twenty20.
Coach Pubudu Dassanayake believes a spot in the World Twenty20 will mean a lot to Nepal at such hard times and his side will do everything to achieve it. “We made history by making a maiden appearance in the World Twenty20 last year but reaching thereagain will have a greater significance this time,” Dassanayake told The Kathmandu Post.
“We have seen the devastation caused by the earthquake and how people are trying to get back to their feet. The country has been in a state of mourning and qualifying for the World Twenty20 is the best thing we could do for the entire nation,” added the coach. The massive 7.8M tremor on April 25 and another big 7.3M aftershock on May 12, however, has already played its part to affect Nepal’s preparation.
Unlike the preparations made for the previous Qualifiers, Nepal have very short time (just over one month) to fine-tune themselves for the big event. However, Dassanayake is confident his squad will be able to win the race against time. Apart from undergoing rigorous training at the HPCA, Nepal will also play at least two matches against the local teams before returning to Nepal to prepare for a trip to England.
“We are scheduled to play three matches in England against some of the tough clubs there and also have three Twenty20 matches against Netherlands in their home ground. Another two warm-up games before the Qualifiers will see us playing at least 10 games. We shall have no problem regarding our preparation,” said Dassanayake.
Nepal will return from India on June 20 and head to England three days later for their second phase of preparation which will be followed by a trip to the Netherlands that will see them play three Twenty20 matches.
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