Nepali cricket team, which often faced fitness problems during previous tournaments, is in fine fettle with the Pepsi World Cricket League Division 4 just round the corner.
Earlier, players had to undertake month-long closed-camp training and they were unable to remain fit, but the long spell of training this time around has kept them at top form.
However, monsoon has been disrupting their regular practice for the Division 4 tournament scheduled for August 14 in Italy.
“We are well prepared in terms of fitness, but the rain has been disrupting our practice sessions. However, we still have three weeks and we expect better,” said Roy Luke Dias, the Sri Lankan Coach for Nepal.
Nepali players are busy in the game since last November as they are playing tournaments regularly.
Nepal played the ACC T20 Cup in UAE in November and won the Pepsi World Cricket League Division 5 on home ground in February.
Likewise, they participated in the domestic T20 and One-Day tournaments along with practice matches, which probably has helped a lot in maintaining their fitness.
According to Dias, Nepali players´ victory in the Division 5 tournament at home has boosted their morale. “After the victory, players´ attitude has changed. They now understand their role in the team better,” said Dias.
“Take for instance Mehboob Alam. He knows he has to play a big role for the team. Players are working hard and I can feel this is the best team,” said Dias. Dias said Nepali team is flying to Italy to claim the title while a final berth will be their minimal target.
The winners and the runners-up of the tournament will be promoted to Division 3, which will be held in Hong Kong in January 2011.
The ultimate goal for the six sides is to reach the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in 2013 and compete for a place in the 2015 World Cup to be held in Australia and New Zealand. The bottom two sides will be relegated to Division 5 ready for the next cycle, which will begin after the 2015 World Cup.
The Division 4 tournament scheduled to be held in the Italian province of Bologna will see six teams from five continents to make the tournament a special one. Asian representatives Nepal will take on hosts Italy (Europe), the US and the Cayman Islands (North America), Argentina (South America) and Tanzania (Africa).
All opponents, except for the US and Italy, are new to Nepal. Nepal defeated the US in the final of Division 5 held in Nepal on February 20-29 having lost to the same side in the league round of the tournament. Nepal and the US have qualified for Division 4 as the Division 5 winners and runners-up.
Nepal and the US have had four previous meetings, where Nepal have won 2, lost one while a match was washed out. On the other side, Nepal had pulled off an 88-run victory against Italy in their one and only encounter in 2005.
Though Nepal are aiming for the title, astro-turf (artificial) pitch in Bologna could be their Achilles´ heel. Dias, thus, cited astro-turf as a reason for including six seamers in the team excluding two batsmen.
“Toss does not play a role in astro-turf. It produces uneven bounce and ball sometimes bounces chest-high,” said Dias. “Batsmen should be aware of the bounce and as grounds in Italy are small, bowler should be conscious,” added Dias.
However, captain Paras Khadka opined that they should not bother much about the astro-turf as they are heading to play Division 4 in Italy.
“The US and Singapore had complained about our wickets during Division 5. We will also complain about the wicket but that is not our aim for the tournament,” said Khadka.
“We are going to Italy to secure a final berth and then to fight for the title. We should not only hope to win but should be determined for it,” added Khadka.
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Finally, All players have good fitness. I thinks this is the one of the best team in national squad. 6 seamers were selection for div – 4. Pace bowler is better on astro- turf pitch that’s why 6 seamer is in team. Pradeep & Manjit has been selection for div- 4. Now national team is strong than before. Cap. Parash should use 4 pace & 2 spinner . wish Nepal will play well. they must be play on final. best of luck.
its good news of our national team that all players are fit and i hop it will further help to gather mental confidence as well. I really like the openion of our captain……………….. Gud Luck Boys
I don’t say best of luck, I say play well n win well.. Best wishes n regards..
4 tournaments in 8 months is not being busy. I will not consider T20 a tournament to be counted coz it a different frame of cricket. And one of that tournament was the National league where they play each other. We do that all the time. Where is the exposure.
I agree with Bardan. Our team needs more exposure indeed. playing 4 events in Eight months time including domestic event shall not help us. We need more and more matches away
4 pacers and 2 spinner in a team… who will do the batting dude…the 12th man ??… I would have asked this question if I didnt knew much about Nepali cricket ….
4 Pacers should be Paras, Mehaboob, Binod, and much hyped Majneet.. who all are supposed to be allrounder…..Only Paras is a genuine allrounder.. I cant remember the last time rest three played a significant inning in international scene….
2 spinners…. Shakti for sure.. for his gritty, “Dias” style batting…. B Regmi.. a proven match winner Gyanendra and Sarad can twist the arm when required…. and do not forget Paras.. he bowls leg spin too when required….
So my playing 11
Opener: Mandal with M. Chettri
One down: Sarad for his experience and skill
followed by Alam for his explosive batting when he stays at crease…
then Shakti for his gritty batting to hold the inning together
then B Regmi for his ability to hit the ball hard..
then Gyanendra and Pradip Airee to conclude the inning…
then Paras at 9 just incase no body clicks, Nepalese batting line can fall so easily
Das can hold bat too for some time at 10
Manjeet “the allrounder” can get stuffed at 11
…..
I can’t expect Paras to be playing at no. 9. He should be playing at the front and facing much of the opponent bowling attack. I guess Shakti and Basanta should be shuffled down to the batting lineup because of their resistant quality. They can play steadily once the front line starts trembling. It’s upto Paras to play with his batting lineup according to the requirement. I guess all the 11 players can play at any position when required.
Cap. paras always used to 3-4 spinner in each match. But in astro- turf pitch he only choose 2 spinner like shakti & basanta / sanjam/ rahul( among this only one spinner).
In my opinion, this is playing 11
1. Mahesh chhetri
2. Anil Mandal
3. Shakti Gauchan
4. Sarad veshwakar
5. paras khadka
6. gyanendra malla
7. meheboob alam
8. basanta regmi
9. manjit shrestha/pradeep airee
10. Binod das
11. sanjam regmi
I THINK that in astro turf pitch,one off spiner sanjam must be in playing 11,with him pradeep airee will be the next face in playing 11,his batting performance has impressed every one in recent years,he has proved himself in every tournament,Acc u-17,11th saf games,Acc u-15,his half-century against pakistan in 11th saf impressed even pakistani players were impressed with his performance,he will be the key player 4 parash khadka.best of luck pradeep & the whole team.
Best of luck guys.play with heart,n my playing 11 would b… anil n mahesh as opener .than gynendra ,sarad,paras,aire,meheboob, shakti,basanta/manjet(acc to pitch). ,das,sanjam. sanjan being only ofspiner should get chance…
Aire is very good batsman ..indeed is a very attacking player..so he should bat lil early.we need need some one like alam n aire bat wit agresion.we alws bat in defensive mood thinking only just to touch 2oo mark..now this can b realy changed with the likes of alam,aire,manjeet
@govind:
I think sanjam should be replaced by manjeet shrestha at 11th place as the pitch is not suitable for spiners.
yes, there must be four pacers in the form of binod, alam, paras and aire who all are all rounders. Two spinners – sanjam and rahul / basanta should be included. Anil, mahesh, gynendra, sharad and shakti will obviously be remaining members.
Here are some point that Nepal have some advantage:
1. Traditionally Nepal is weak on batting side. Turf helps batsmen that means Nepali batsmen will do better.
2. Nepali players much younger than American and Italians so it gives more advantage on fielding side.
3. Nepali play for their country others seem to play for Money.
Good Luck Team Nepal
Wat these 2 gafadi PANERU N PANDEY DOIN?
First they talkd abt practic match betn NEPAL n club team of india pakistan. It washd along wid monsoon!
When it was told dat div 4 is being played in astro turf 2 month bak,they havn’t bought til 2day! Gafadi pandey said it has ben orderd 4m england n wil reach on wednsday bt it wont com til squad returns 4m italy!
Nepal’s seamers may b hamerd by oponent batsman as in past as ground is vry smal! Antonio had said spiners wil b useful so they wil mis puspa thapa!
Acordin 2 cricinfo.com in d rankings of asociate n afilate membrs NEPAL ranks 9′th,USA 10′th n ITALY 15′th so nepal deserves winer if al players who loks strong in paper wil show strong performance in italy!
Al d best
Nepal is the one the the favorites to win this tournament, they got the bigger abilities,skills,much passion,,, they have great opportunity to show the world to the countries like arg, italy who are the champ of football cant stand in the game of cricket..nepal has the spirit to win ….so nepalese guys gonna make the history here..Go Nepal GO!!
Still not convinced with the ranking and Nepal being the favourite. We have not won anything away from home in senior games in distant memory. The Yanks and the Italians boost players from Carribbean and Sub-continent respectively who have played much organised tournaments than our Nepali players. I think US is the likely winner and given Nepali players inexperience in astro turf, I think we are outsider. Italians always play their cricket in astro turf, so they are better equipped with local conditions.
I will be the happiest person if Nepal makes to the final, which is the minimum we fans deserve.
again guys…i dnt think i agree wid binod simkhada bro!!m sorry bro, bt nepalese cricketers have been playing cricket in astros type pitches from the start!!let me tell u how!!coz in Baluwatar cricket club, we’ve got cemented pitch, which is much more rigid than astro!!and from past 5 years, there are 2 astro pitches in T.U ground where all of nepalese cricketers, be them of any level, are practising…so i dnt think we r nt the favorites…in case of italians, if u see their matches n exposures…they r playing indoor cricket, from past 2 years…n trust me indoor cricket is much more different as u noe!!!so we r definately the favorites…n u r rite….final berth is the minimum that we can expect from nepalese!!!cheers bro..
@ i hate…… bro sorie u r mistaken, there is a brand new astro turf in T.U ground from 7 months….n players have been practising just there!!!so u r mistaken…n abt paneru n pandey, its nt their mistakes, its the nation’s mistake, coz its the rule of the nation!!!i hope u got me!!!cheers!!
@Ayush: I had recently read in kantipur daily that we have one very old and small astro turf in which the players are practicing. CAN has ordered new astro turf but it hasn’t arrived. Captain paras had hopes that it will arrive very soon that they can have enough practice on it. But. U said that we have had it for 7 months.
good luck from a bangladeshi….u guys deserve 2015 world cup…….all the best…nepal can actually make it according to me…..dont fret guys..u guys rockk!
Keep the passion going…..in the end…this passion will bring in glory for nepal…..amongst the associates, nepal has the brightest future…..because of the passion and patriotism alone…..u guys will soon surpass the liks of irelands, kenya, etc….matter or how patient u gys are..have faith…and God willing, u will soon see the haydays of Nepali cricket…..
from genuine Bangladeshi wisher of Nepal cricket
this tournament being played on turf reminds me of the 1997 icc trophy worldcup qualifiers which Bangladesh won….I am hopeful and confident too Nepal can emulate this success…..by winning this tournament in style and eventually qualifying for the icc world cup qualifiers in 2013 and then that GOLDEN TICKET to Australia/New Zealand in 2015
btw, do u guys follow international cricket or only cricket matches/competition in which Nepal particiaptes…..i, for one, have been following nepali cricket since 2006/07…….and often visit this site…………
You most welcome Shakib n thanks for ur support to our team. We all of us i mean all nepalese cricket fans especially me, frequently visit international cricket. i like the attacking players like tamim iqbal, sahid afridi, birendra shewag, etc.
Yaa, I hope tht our players can do it n they will make it just like u said abov in ur comment. anyway thanks for ur comment bro.