[Originally published at Asian Cricket Council website]
Nepal’s Gyanendra Malla and Afghanistan’s Hasti Gul have achieved much for their countries on the playing field, now they’re trying to do more off the field. Both have started academies in their home towns, with an eye to creating their successors in the national teams of the future.
“Of all the things I have done, this is what makes me feel the best,” says Hasti Gul.
Swing-bowling, hard-hitting Hasti Gul, 26, was one of the players on Afghanistan’s epic charge up the world rankings which took them to the brink of World Cup 2011 qualification and though out of the national team at present, he retains his immense popularity in a country in which cricket is increasingly being established as the most popular sport.
“160 players daily come to my Academy in Jalalabad,” says Hasti, “we have four turf wickets and two cement pitches and a coach from Peshawar Mr. Saad Muhammad. My dream is that 10 of these boys go on to play for the national team in five years and that many more will come and enjoy cricket in our country.”
Nepal’s Gyanendra Malla, 19, is softer-spoken than Hasti Gul and is a player still performing at the highest possible level for Nepal. A middle-order batsman of grace and distinction who can bowl spin and throw with either arm, he has a maturity that belies his years. He has been playing for the national team since 2006 and is a major talent.
Photo by Asian Cricket Council
There is no doubt that his 40 or so young charges, who come after school when they can but almost always on Saturdays weather permitting, respond well to Gyanendra’s gentle encouragement and teaching. His pupils are as young as five and he has two of the national woman’s squad also enrolled in his Academy.
“It’s more of a Training Centre than an ‘Academy’” says Gyanendra modestly of his work in a vacant residential plot in the suburbs of Kathmandu.
“Everybody has different needs, for the young it’s mostly a matter of getting them to enjoy the game, to realise how much they can achieve if they just try. For the older ones it’s just working with them on small things to make sure they keep doing the right things,” says Gyanendra.
“We don’t have huge expectations here, we are just starting but I know that without someone to encourage you in the right way you can’t really be a good cricketer. Cricket is popular in Nepal but it is also hard to play for a number of reasons but its something that can really help the young have access to cricket. So few schools have teams, there are so few tournaments and the children who want to play don’t get enough chances. Here it’s about just playing and giving parents the confidence to send their children here.”
Hasti Gul and Gyanendra Malla met on the playing field a few times themselves in ACC and ICC tournaments, in the future players they have helped develop may well do the same.
“I will not play cricket forever but I want to help make cricket forever big in Afghanistan. I am saying 10 players for the national team, I also hope to have 10 teams from the Academy in domestic competitions in Afghanistan. And then international,” says Hasti Gul.
He and Gyanendra have achieved, are achieving, much and developing cricket in a vital and necessary way. They have already inspired quite literally hundreds of thousands, such is their appeal in their native lands. They are also directly helping as many as they can along the way.
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Nepalko next coach also from srilanka. that’s good news that dias will going to leave. we know that he is good coach but now we need new coach. Dias coached our team 9 year. one player he told me that there is no thing that now we can learn from dias. manjit lai again teamma rakhnu thik hoina. Baru rupesh sribastav or chandra saudlai teamma bolaunu parthiyo. hope teamma vayeko kheladiko name sahit next news aune cha.
gyanendra is the key player of our team. he usually like to play as team conditon. if team need attack then he do it & if defend then that also.
Hey afghans.. Im s0ry tht u l0st against india but i apritiate the way u guys played.. Wel d0ne.. And best of luck for ur nex game. Remembr tht u guys r reprisenting whole asociate and afiliate teams..
Hey GOVINDA,
how do u sure that our next coach is also from Srilanka? What is the source of ur information? Plz guys try to express the true informations as a true fan of nepali cricket so that we all of us could be sure about posted news n comments.
………………… . . . .a real nepali
i am not 100% sure. this is just my guess. May be wrong what i say. But i think that will be happen.
But Govind, u had just posted those comments as if it is fixed n u r sure that our next national coach is already choosen from Srilanka. Thats why you made me confuse yar. Anyway thanks for ur clearence.
. . . . . . . . . . .a real nepali
Thanx Atit H,
first ever appearance in world cup and the pressure of cameras, crowd and of course the best indian team, made us lose, but i’m quite happy with the afghan performance. Thanx man, and gud luck. Tc
Obviously the differences of quality between the teams doesn’t play a role in Afghan defeat, at least not in your world.
GUys, gud news from CAN. Team Nepal will be playing two practice matches with Indian team, then go to Sri Lanka for more games and then again go to England to play practice matches before Div 4.
if news is true ..thats good. but i still don believe it,….where is the source of information???who is going to coach team nepal???dias is going to quit soon as i heard …
Obviously its a great news, guys, if its true. But still there’s lots of doubts and confusion unless our team comes out in the ground to play with those team in reality because CAN had already seduled so many matches previously and at the end they publish a notish that ‘its been canceled’. Lets hope this time it wont be repeated. Nice to c u guys once again and please dont forget Keep posting ur comments.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .a real nepali
Great news. I think this news is true. One time Can president pandey said that nepal will play practice match with 3 country before div- 4. Now we heard this news. This is good for team to improve their performance. thanks friend for yr message.
http://www.nagariknews.com/sports/national-sports/13070-2010-05-06-06-21-50.html
source of news that i posted in previous comment. It havn’t stated any thing about coach. Dais is coaching for Div 4 any way.
Hey mr. We wil play wc.. I D0NT BELIVE U!! Plz tel us in which website did u read that?? And i dnt thnk indian nati0nal team wil play a practice match with nepal..
If u use Mig33.. Go to NEPALSTUDENT chatrum
i didnt say indian national team will play, its some indian local team, and i post the link above, check it out..
Hey.. Gud news guys.. Nepal wil b playin practice match in sri lanka within 3 weeks time. S0urce of info: national t.V sports news
Oh, of cource thts a good news ‘Atit H’ bro. But Guys i’ve some confusions about our coach and players. Is DIAS really leaving? If he is leaving then who is the new coach? And about the players, whats the namelist of player that are visiting Srilanka and how the players will be selected for that tour.
In my view the player who plays more practise matches must include in final squad because the one who plays practice matches he gets more experiences.
That is why i think its important issue as its not possible for CAN to take all 20 member in that tour.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .a real nepali