The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Sunday put forth a roadmap to resolve the existing crisis in Nepali cricket by transforming the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) into Nepal Cricket Board.

Nepali cricket has been in crisis since April 25 after the world cricket governing

body suspended the membership of CAN for its dual existence following disputed elections that saw the government intervene and form an ad-hoc committee.

After a series of meetings with stakeholders, including Prime Minister Pushpa Kamal Dahal, ICC Chief Executive David Richardson on Sunday said an ICC Advisory Group will move

forward in ending the current crisis.

“The initial mandate of that Advisory Group will be to review CAN’s existing constitution. Once we have reviewed it and make any amendments to it or put in place a fresh constitution, it will facilitate the holding of elections to form a cricket board,” said Richardson, who arrived here on Saturday night.

Although making amendment to CAN constitution is expected to be a lengthy process, Richardson believes support from stakeholders will help speed up the procedure. “The meeting with the PM was very encouraging,” the ICC CEO said. “We told him about the enormous talent that Nepali cricket has. He assured us his complete support to put in place a new foundation.”

The former South African national team wicketkeeper added: “I am hopeful that it will be a lot quicker than what is actually expected. Our plan is to get things sorted out by June, 2017. We are determined to make sure that Nepali cricket and the teams don’t have to suffer.”

The Advisory Group will consist of representatives from the government, the National Sports Council, members of the elected and ad-hoc committees of CAN along with people from the cricketing community.

Richardson said the names of members in the Group would be finalised in two weeks, but sources said former CAN president Binay Raj Pandey, Joint Secretary at the Ministry of Youth and Sports Chudamani Poudel, former acting president of CAN Deepak Koirala, businessman Basanta Chaudhary and former skipper Pawan Agarwal had agreed to be in the committee. Elected general secretary of CAN Ashok Nath Pyakurel, who was said to have been approached by the ICC, refused to joint the group.

The group will work in coordination with the ICC, which will appoint its account section chief Ammar Sheikh to look into financial affairs on an interim basis until a suitable candidate is designated to look after the project.

The suspension of CAN has resulted in freezing of more than $900,000 in ICC funds meant for the game’s development in Nepal, while the domestic cricket has ground to a halt due to lack of funds.

Richardson also explained what it takes to lift the ICC ban on Nepali cricket. “Under our (ICC) constitution, a member must hold free and fair elections and there shouldn’t be any government interference,” he continued.

“We need to put in place a constitution acceptable to everyone and complies with the relevant legislation in Nepal. Once elections are held under that revised constitution without government interference, ICC will reinstate Nepal. But funds will be channeled as required to sustain cricket in Nepal.”