Nepali Cricketers will be Rewarded

Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has decided to honor Nepali Cricket team members with cash prize Rs 150,000 each for their glorious victory over Hong Kong and Afghanistan in the ICC World T20, held in Bangladesh.

Talking to Republica Online, CAN President Tanka Angbuhang, said that the Nepali cricket players, coach and phisio will be awarded with the cash prize.
After making glorious victory in the World Twenty20 cricket tournament held in Bangladesh, Nepali National Cricket Team returned home on Friday.

Minister for Youth and Sports Purusottam Poudel, National Sports Council Member Secretary Yuvaraj Lama and Cricket Association of Nepal President Tanka Angbuhang among others welcomed the team at the International Airport at 2 pm.

Nepal wrapped up its maiden ICC World T20 campaign on a high note defeating arch rival Afghanistan by nine runs on Thursday at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong for its first win over the Afghans in a decade.

The second victory in the group stage, however, could not secure Nepal a place in the Super 10 round as Bangladesh progressed despite losing to Hong Kong by two wickets in the group’s final match held at the same venue in the evening. Hong Kong had to win the match in less than 13.2 overs for Nepal to qualify for the next round as the group winner. But Hong Kong met the target with only two balls to spare after bowling Bangladesh out for 108 runs.

Nepal was pitted against host Bangladesh, the only Test-playing nation in the group, Afghanistan and Hong Kong in Group A.

The victory also avenged Nepal’s twin defeats in November, 2013 during the World T20 Qualifiers in the United Arab Emirates. Nepal had not beaten Afghanistan in any format of the game after the 2004 ACC Trophy.

On Thursday, put into bat first after losing the toss, Nepal posted a 142-run target and restricted Afghanistan to 132/8. The 76-run stand for the fourth wicket between opener Subash Khakurel (56 off 53) and Sharad Vesawkar (37 off 32), Gyanendra’s quick-fire 22 of 13, tight bowling and fielding were key to Nepal’s victory.

“Afghanistan is a good team and we had to take every chance to beat them. We capitalized on some key moments to win the match,” Nepal’s skipper Paras Khadka said at the post-match press conference. Describing the victory as an achievement, he said, “This is the first time we qualified for the World T20 and won two games. This itself is an achievement. However, the real journey begins now. We just can’t remain complacent after qualifying for one World Cup.”

Subash also became the first Nepali player to score a half-century in the ICC global event. Earlier, vice-captain Gyanendra’s 48 runs against Hong Kong was the highest score by a Nepali batsman in the team’s maiden World T20. Subash reached his 50 in 48 balls. He blasted four boundaries and a six in his innings. Vesawkar, the second-highest scorer, smashed five boundaries.

“We gave our best, I think everybody contributed very well. Jeetendra Mukhiya bowled exceptionally well. It was a great team performance. Subash Khakurel, Sharad Vesawkar and Gyanendra batted very well. When you have to beat a good team, you have to play good cricket, and we did that today,” said Paras.

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