The long and winding journey towards the ICC Cricket World Cup 2015 makes its next stop in Nepal shortly with six teams competing in the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 5 (WCL Div. 5) from 20 to 27 February.
The WCL gives the ICC’s Associate and Affiliate Members a clear pathway towards qualification for the pinnacle event of the limited-overs game.
Not that it is easy to get there, of course. Tournament host and favourite Nepal will face tough opposition in its attempt to finish in the top two and gain promotion to Division 4 to be held in Italy in August this year. The other teams taking part in the tournament are Bahrain, Fiji, Jersey, Singapore and USA.
The matches will take place on three grounds – Tribhuvan University, Army School Ground and Engineering College.
Singapore, which was victorious when it hosted WCL Div.6 in September 2009, has appointed former Sri Lanka opening batsman Marvan Atapattu as its new coach and he is confident that he can pick up with the side where former high-profile coach Trevor Chappell left off.
“Trevor Chappell did a fantastic job for Singapore and all the side have been given a taste for victory. It’s going to be hard work for the team when we travel to Nepal, which is a challenging venue, but I am confident that we will do well.
“My style of coaching is different to Trevor’s but I am confident the side will adapt and do a good job on Division 5. I believe the wickets in Nepal are not dissimilar to the UK and the seam bowlers will do well there so I’ve got to get my bowlers ready for those conditions.
“We are a talented team but being part-timers makes their priorities different from those of pro cricketers so I will also need to adjust while they need to understand my expectations of them which is that we must to compete on all three skills levels – batting, bowling and fielding.
“The fielding work Trevor did with the side was great. We just need to keep pushing to get through Division 5 and onto the next rung of the ladder.”
A runner-up of WCL Div. 6 and winners of WCL Div. 7 back in May last year, Bahrain is also confident of success in the tournament in Nepal.
Its coach, former Pakistan Test and ODI fast bowler Mohsin Kamal, is quietly confident about the tournament.
“When we went into Division 6 we didn’t know all our strengths and now I feel we have discovered them. We play our games with our strengths and abilities and I am confident we’ll do well in Nepal.
“We’ve been taking a look at the other teams’ scores but we’re concentrating on ourselves. However, we of course know Singapore from Division 6 and also Nepal from the recent tournament we played in the United Arab Emirates.
“I’ve also taken a trip to Nepal so am aware of the type of pitches we can expect and but as always with this game it’s about what happens on the day,” said Mohsin.
The USA will head to Division 5 straight from the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers in Dubai, where they made a successful start by beating the highly fancied Scotland in its opening match. The side will arrive in Nepal a week early for the tournament to get some 50-over match practice in ahead of their first match against Fiji.
USA captain Steve Massiah said: “We’ll be heading straight from the WT20 Qualifiers to Nepal, so we’ll have had plenty of match practice. We’ve got some warm-ups in Nepal to help us get back into 50 over cricket from Twenty20.
“We know Nepal and Jersey well as teams we’ve met before and as for Singapore, Bahrain and Fiji we’ll just have to face what comes at us, but I am confident of my side.”
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All the best team NEPAL. We must qualify for div.4 this time.
Sharad, Paras, Binod dai et al,
Good luck for the tournament. I know u guys will make us proud.
Play hard boys!!
Though its a tough tournament as USA is playing with top associates and Figi n Jersey have also shown their superiority over Nepal in the past but since we are playing in the home condition i am very much hopeful that we will be promoted.Thumbs up for the Paras and the company.
Guys Good luck for the tournament.
Play hard guys.
you Guys will make us proud we know that.
Hello paras bro…, nice job keep it up .n all of other guys well played .best of luck for next game