Asian Cricket Council (ACC) executive meeting held yesterday in Malaysia has confirmed Kathmandu as the venue for the upcoming ACC U-19 Cricket Tournament.
“ACC has confirmed Nepal as the venue,” Pradip Karki, treasurer of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) told NepalCricket.com. “It was decided late yesterday in the meeting.”
CAN president Jai Kumar Nath Shah participated in the meeting as the ACC vice-president.
Earlier, an inspection team consisting of Development Manager Sultan Rana and Development Officer Rumesh Ratnayake had visited Nepal to see the progress.
The tournament begins on Nov 8 and the winner will qualify for the U-19 Youth World Cup scheduled for February, 2006 in Sri Lanka.
Meanwhile, CAN organized a press conference here to officially annouce the ACC decision.
“U-19 ACC Trophy has been Okayed and confirmed [to be held in Nepal] by ACC,†CAN vice-president TB Shah said in the press conference. “The ACC Executive Board Meeting yesterday made the decision in this regard.â€Â
ACC has also changed the date of the tournament on CAN’s request. Now, the final of the tournament will be held on Nov 19 – a day later than originally scheduled. “We requested ACC for the change because we want to stage the final on Saturday,†Shah said.
The event will be held in four venues – TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur, Tundhikhel in Kathmandu, Engineering Institute Ground in Lalitpur and Birendra Sainik Awasiya Mahavidhyalaya Ground in Bhaktapur.
“Ratnayake is coming on Nov 18 and we will have a practice matches between the national team and U-19 team on the new venues to test the wickets,†Shah said.
“This will be the biggest sporting event in the country as age-group national teams from 15 countries will be participating,†Shah added. “This event will go more smoothly than we have done before.â€Â
CAN secretary Laxman Bastola, Vice-president Sri Niwas Rana, Treasurer Pradip Karki and other members were also present in the conference.