Khadka, who is currently in Australia, raised Aus$ 35,000 from programmes in three different cities. The money was raised from the auction where Nepali national team jerseys and bats were kept along with other cricket gears put by Cricket Australia and local cricket clubs.

The programmes, which were not only attended by the Nepalese citizens but also Australians, were held in Darwin, Sydney and Melbourne. A Nepali jersey signed by Khadka was sold for Aus$ 1,300 becoming the highest ever paid sports kit in Nepali sporting history.

Another cricket bat holding the signatures of Australian cricketers was sold for Aus$2,000. Likewise, other bat and jersey signed by Khadka were sold for a minimum price of Aus$ 300.

Khadka was originally planning for talks with different individuals and clubs over the possible benefit Nepal can get in Australia but he switched to raising funds for quake victims after the disaster hit Nepal.

“Under these circumstances, even the players have to contribute to their country,” Khadka told The Kathmandu Post. “All the money raised from here (Australia) will be used in assisting the earthquake victims back in Nepal.”

Khadka said Nepali cricketers and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) will jointly provide relief to earthquake victims after he reaches Nepal. “Our target is to provide assistance to the worst-hit region,” added the Nepal skipper.

NSC to provide Rs 100,000 each to victims’ families

Kathmandu: The National Sports Council (NSC) on Wednesday decided to provide a relief of Rs 100,000 to the family of the six athletes and sports journalist Suman Bomjan, who died due to the massive 7.9 magnitude earthquake that left Nepal devastated on April 25.

A meeting of the National Players’ Welfare Fund raised by the sports governing body decided to provide the amount to the deceased. Three judokas, two karatekas and a cricketer have lost their lives due to the ‘Great Quake’—the most devastating in the country after 81 years. Anisha Dangol, Nilam Dangol and Narayan Tamang of Nuwakot were the judo players losing their life, while karatekas Chandra Kumar Shrestha of Tanahun and Suraj Dangol of Nuwakot along with cricketer Manoj Pandit of Sindhupalchowk succumbed to the natural disaster.

Sports journalist Bomjan of government-owned Nepali national daily Gorkhapatra was found dead at his rented house in Mahabouddha eight days after the disaster on Saturday. The meeting also decided to provide relief package worth Rs 20, 000 to those national and international players whose house are completely damaged by the quake. Meanwhile, Nepal Olympic Committee handed over Rs 25,000 to the family of Bomjan, The Nepal Sports Journalists Forum received the amount on Tuesday on behalf of the Bomjan family.