The National Sports Council (NSC) on Monday directed Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) Chief Executive Officer (CEO) Bhawana Ghimire to ‘independently’ operate the cricket governing body until the cricket crisis finds a way out.

In a letter sent to the CEO, also forwarded to the Ministry for Youth and Sports, NSC directed Ghimire to carry out all day-to-day responsibilities of CAN in coordination with international governing bodies and NSC. NSC’s decision comes a day after NSC asked Ghimire not to work with the new committee led by Chatur Bahadur Chand.

CAN has plunged into a deep crisis after a faction organised the general assembly against the NSC directive. The country’s supreme sports body has been saying that the general assembly, and subsequently the election that formed the new committee, was held without completing any due procedures and deemed the elected body illegal. NSC has also been doing its homework to form a separate ad-hoc committee that will find a way to form a cricket board.

NSC Member Secretary Keshav Bista said Ghimire was handed the responsibility until the next decision is taken. “The tenure of Tanka Aangbuhang-led committee is over and the other faction is nothing but a private limited run by limited number of people,” said Bista. “We don’t recognise the (Chand-led) committee. There are multiple cricket programmes coming the Nepal way and  participating in the Under-19 World Cup is one of them. So to make sure that cricket activities are not affected, Ghimire has been directed to carry out day-to-day activities. She will work under our guideline and coordinate with international bodies as well,” said Bista.

NSC’s latest decision, however, is certain to create a confusing working environment for Ghimire with the Chand-led committee claiming it as a body formed by completing all procedures and according to the CAN statute. Ghimire said it was going to be tough job for her. “I got the NSC directive which asked me to coordinate with ICC (International Cricket Council) and ICC Asia. But working under

such circumstances is a tough ask,” said Ghimire who has been working under different leadership in the cricket governing body ever since she was appointed to the post.

“Its never going to be easy when you have to deal with five leadership. I would rather carry out my duties quietly as far as possible,” said Ghimire who worked under TB Shah, Deepak Koirala, Tanka Aangbuhang before Chand took over the CAN leadership. Ghimire’s six-month contract ends in the second week

of January.