Nepal Credit and Commerce Bank Pvt Ltd on Wednesday appointed national cricket team’s two emerging cricketers Rohit Kumar Paudel and Aarif Sheikh as their brand ambassadors.

The duo were appointed for a two-year period as the bank envoys and will be provided with Rs 25,000 every month. Aarif and Aasif have been crucial in Nepal’s progress as a One Day International (ODI) nation and had forged some crucial partnership in the middle order to bail out the team from crunch situations.

They were recently involved in an 82-run stand for the sixth wicket against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) lifting Nepal from 113-5 to 242-9 in their second of the three-match ODI series that helped the country fight back and ultimately win their maiden series in the one-day international history. NCC unveiled the two batsmen during a press meet on Wednesday.

Everest Premier League Managing Director Aamir Akhtar had initiated for the two player’s contract with the bank. Sheikh, who along with Paudel is seen as 50-over specialist for the senior fold, was thankful to the bank. “This is a kind of initiation that will motivate us to do even better for the country and also ensure upcoming cricketers to stick with the game. I would like to thank everyone involved,” said Sheikh.

NCC Chief Executive Officer Ramesh Raj Aryal said the bank had reasons to tie up with the two cricketers. “NCC has a long history and to carry the legacy of the bank, this association with the two young cricketers will help us for sure. We are very much hopeful that Aarif and Rohit will continue to do well for Nepal in the coming days,” said Aryal.

NCC President Upendra Keshari Neupane said he was happy to get two rising cricketers on board. “The achievement of the cricketers and what they are now is something I had always dreamed of as an athlete in the past. Its great to get the two youngsters from the national team getting associated with us. We are happy to contribute to the Nepali cricket overall,” added Neupane.

Thapa gets financial assistance

Cricket Players Association Nepal (CPAN) on Wednesday handed over financial assistance to the former national cricketer Basudev Thapa. Thapa was presented with Rs 50,000 for his medication during the fourth Annual General Meeting of the umbrella association of current and former Nepali cricketers. The AGM also nominated former national team spinner Shakti Gauchan and women’s team wicketkeeper Jyoti Pandey as the new members. They replaced Subash Khakurel and Dipendra Chaudhary, who had tendered their resignation. (PR)