National cricket team vice-captain Gyanendra Malla’s Kathmandu Cricket Training Centre (KCTC) on Thursday extended its wings by tying up with Royal Indoor, Nepal’s first indoor cricket facility.

KCTC Chairman Malla and Royal Indoor Founder Santosh Sangraula signed in the MoU amidst a programme at the facility in Golfutaar. The agreement will now see the facility named as Royal KCTC with the latter operating it as a training centre. The facility covers an area of 27m in length and 20m in breadth having laid three pitches.

Malla said the deal was not done overnight. “We had been in talks for the deal for a long time and finally it has been struck. We were quite enthusiastic to operate it as a training centre,” said the cricketer adding the facility, previously used as tournament or match venue, will now get multi-purposive activities.

“We will be looking after the technical and management part. We are beginning with the improvement of the facilities and make the coaches available for training. This is one of the best indoor facilities in Nepal and using it for multiple purposes will be very beneficial,” added Malla.

Established in 2008, KCTC is one of the few oldest cricket academies in the country and has its head office in Sanepa. In 2014, it had extended its wing by setting up a training facility at the Brishaspati Vidya Sadan.

Meanwhile, a team of Royal KCTC defeated Nepal Sports Journalists Forum (NSJF) by 57 runs in a one-match The Royal Cup organised to mark the tie up between Royal Indoor and KCTC. Electing to bat first, Royal KCTC made 118 in 12 overs before NSJF were bundled out for 61 in 7.2.