E-Kantipur

KATHMANDU, JUL 24 -

Cricketers and fans have set Nepal a target, the 2015 World Cup. In order to achieve the target the national team must cross the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 4 hurdle which will run through August 14-21 in Italy. The road to the World Cup is long and difficult but Nepal have no choice but to finish the tournament as either the winner or the runner-up. Or else wait till the end of the 2015 World Cup to start the journey all over again.

That is not all if they do not execute well and finish the tournament in the bottom two then Nepal will fall back to the Division 5 and begin from there all over again.

The situation is tough as in the six nation (Nepal, USA, Argentina, Tanzania, Cayman Island and Italy) Nepal along with USA are the new comers in the league and the competition is going to be tough if nothing.

However coach Roy Luke Dias is confident that they will pass the Division 4 test. That according to him is because his side have acquired the habit of winning.  “Winning is a habit and we (the senior team) have at last got used to this habit,” said Dias, who has been nurturing the team as early as the age group tournaments. 

According to him the senior side which had been labeled as the semi-final chokers have proved themselves in the ICC World Cricket League Division 5, which, they won at home in style back in February. The confidence in his players after that victory has skyrocketed.

“The shift in their attitude is totally different and they play like winners,” added Dias. All said the tournament will still not be a piece of cake as Nepal will be playing in totally different condition. Apart from Binod Das, who has played in an astro turf, rest of the team will be playing in the artificial wicket made of rubber for the first time.  This turf produces uneven and bounce making the life of batsmen difficult as for the bowlers they will not be allowed to wear spiked shoes make their follow through difficult. To add to their woes the constant mizzle has hampered their regular practice session. 

Captain Paras Khadka is in no mood to waste time lamenting about the pitch condition or the constant rain as he believes they have no option but to adjust to the given circumstance and give their best. “We have no option but to make the most of the current situation and give our best,” Khadka said, “Our mission is qualify for the next round and we have no time to waste wailing about things we cannot control.”

Former Sri Lankan test player Dias stated that Khadka’s ability to lead the team from the front has also added to the confidence of the entire team.  “He is someone who leads from the front and is does not shy away from taking responsibility if things don’t go which has lifted the performance of the team,” said Dias. The only thing that worries Dais is the players other teams have. “Unlike us other countries hire foreign players, we have faced senior teams in the past which had almost all the players from either Pakistan or India,” recalled Dias, “but that is no excuse as we had a long time to prepare and the best team rearing to face battle.”  

Posted on: 2010-07-24 12:33

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