Sports
Nepal-Hong Kong T20i: Rain yet again plays spoilsport
Bad weather once again affected Nepal’s Twenty20 International series against Hong Kong as the second match was also abandoned on Thursday without a ball being bowled due to wet conditions.After the first match ended with the same fate due to rain on Wednesday, poor ground conditions also forced abandonment leaving both Nepal and Hong Kong teams frustrated. It was the first ever international T20 series for both the teams since their participation in the ICC World Twenty20 in Bangladesh.
According to national team skipper Paras Khadka, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) and Sri Lanka Cricket are considering to reschedule the three-match T20 series at the expense of already decided one off one-days between the two teams which has been set for November 24.
“We (Nepal and Hong Kong) had been eagerly waiting for this series,” Khadka told The Kathmandu Post form Dambulla. “If we play a match on Friday, which is a reserve day, the organisers are planning to call off the 50-over game and complete the series instead.”
Nepal Coach Pubudu Dassanayake pointed out to another option if no game was possible on Friday. “The T20 series has been rescheduled to begin from Friday but if the rain persists, the option is to go to Kurunegala and play three 50-over games against with Hong Kong,” said the coach. “But for that to happen we need approval from the ICC (International Cricket Council).”
However with more rain is expected for the next few days, there is least possibility of relocating the series.
While other Twenty20 International venues in Sri Lanka are also affected by the persistent rain, Kurunegala cannot host the series. Kurunegala grounds, where Nepal played two three-day matches, is not a Twenty20 international venue.