Nepali national cricket team has set a new target of earning One-Day status after clinching ICC World Cricket League Division 4 trophy held in Malaysia.
Nepal put up an all-round performance and won all the six matches of Division 4 to ensure promotion to Division 3. Cricketers and coach PubuduDassanayake not only applauded each other for the brilliant performances but also revealed their new target on their arrival at the Tribhuwan International Airport on Tuesday.
Nepali Cricket team poses for photo with ICC World Cricket League Division 4 trophy at the Tribhuwan International Airport on Sept 11, 2012.
“Our World Cup hope is back on track now after the victory in Malaysia. We equally have chance of playing T20 World Cup,” said Captain ParasKhadka. “We have to aim for World Cup Qualifiers now. We should at least earn One-Day status reaching there,” he added.
Coach Dassanayake also claimed that Nepal is a better side than any team in Division 3 and Division 2.
“For me, Nepal is almost on par to teams in Division 1. Players should have this belief,” said Dassanayake. “Boys had similar self belief in Malaysia and we succeeded in winning the trophy,” he added.
The coach termed the Division 4 victory as a special one. “We didn´t give any opportunities to our opponents, putting up solid performance in every department. We defeated the USA twice,” said Dassanayake.
“However, it was nothing new for me as I was aware about the potential of these boys. The good thing is that every player stood up to their potential,” he added.
Captain Khadka credited coach Dassanayake´s strategies and build-up process behind the Division 4 success. “Coach has developed a strategy to engage players in cricketing activities regularly.
He sent me to Canada. Shakti Gauchan to train with Rajasthan Royals. GyanendraMalla, SharadVesawkar and Anil Mandal were sent to India for training. AmriBhattarai and Chandra Saud got chances to play in U-23 league of Sri Lanka,” said Khadka.
“All these international exposures brought positive changes in the team. It provided us with mental toughness and helped us believe in ourselves,” he added.
Fans welcome heroes
Meanwhile, around 200 Nepali cricket fans were huddled at the parking lot at the Tribhuvan International Airport with garlands in their hands on Tuesday morning.
As the national team captain Paras Khadka and his team emerged out of the international terminal with the glittering ICC World Cricket League Division 4 trophy at noon, the fans went into a frenzy cheering and shouting for their star players.
Television cameras rushed to capture the moment as National Sports Council Member Secretary Yubaraj Lama, Cricket Association Nepal (CAN) General Secretary Ashok Nath Pyakuryal and other officials gave them a hearty welcome. The players were soon seen sharing their experiences with the media persons gathered there.
The thumping of drums and the sonorous tunes of the traditional panchebaaza turned the whole atmosphere festive as fans danced and sang to their heart´s content.
“It was a real excitement to welcome the national team that has brought home glory,” said Birat Raya, who heads the Nepali Cricket Fan Club. “It took almost an hour for the players to emerge out of the terminal but none of the fans budged an inch before the players came out,” he added.
The cricketers´ joy knew no bounds, too. “This is the heartiest welcome I have received in my cricketing career,” said Binod Das, former team captain. “It really feels good that our performance has been appreciated,” he added.
Nepali national team had won the ICC World Cricket League Division 4 trophy on Monday in Malaysia defeating USA by 8 wickets in the final. Nepal won all the six matches of the tournament to win the trophy and to ensure its berth in Division 3.