Asian Cricket Council (ACC) CEO Syed Ashraful Huq laid the foundation stone of the national cricket academy here at Mulpani on Monday amidst hope that the cricket playing structure would be completed in a year.
Huq was joined by National Sports Council (NSC) member secretary Jeevan Ram Shrestha and Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) president Binaya Raj Pandey in laying the stone while the members of ACC Co-ordination Committee and CAN members attended the program. The event was scheduled at the conclusion of the two-day meeting of ACC Co-ordination Committee.
The venue allotted by the Nepal Government for the construction of now-scrapped ACC Central Academy will now have a cricket ground at the first phase. “We are beginning the work with ACC’s funding of US$ 100,000,†Pandey said. “We hope to get more support once the actual construction begins.â€Â
Huq along with Development Manager Sultan Rana hoped that the academy would help to boost Nepal’s cricket talents. Huq praised Nepal’s progress in cricket requesting the government to support cricket more.
“ACC is targeting Nepal as the next Test-nation from Asia,†ACC CEO Syed Ashraful Huq said adding that he hoped to see Nepal playing Test in his life-time. “If there is any team sports Nepal can excel, its cricket, so I request the government and others to support cricket,†he added.
On construction of the academy too, Huq said ACC would extend supporting hand. “We will give 100 per cent technical support,†he said. “We can’t say same to financial support but we hope to give as much as possible.â€Â
Photos by NepalPhotoAgency.com