Sports
Rain ruins opening day
Kantipur Gurkhas and Vishal Warriors shared points as rain ruined the opening day of the much-awaited Wai Wai Everest Premier League (EPL) at the Tribhuvan University grounds on Saturday.Kantipur Gurkhas and Vishal Warriors shared points as rain ruined the opening day of the much-awaited Wai Wai Everest Premier League (EPL) at the Tribhuvan University grounds on Saturday.
The setting was perfect for cricket as the lush green TU grounds was ready to begin a new Twenty20 league of domestic cricket with singer Deepak Bajracharya and his band preparing for a 45-minute live show. However, consistent rain halted the entire programme and the game had to be called off at 3:00PM without the toss.
More than the weather wreaking havoc, Warriors and national team skipper Paras Khadka was happy that EPL has kicked off. “The ground looked fantastic in the morning. Unfortunately on the field, we couldn’t get going today. The tournament is declared open and hopefully the weather clears out in coming days,” said Warriors skipper Paras Khadka adding EPL has given a setting that everyone was looking for.
“Its going to be a very good competition. Its an opportunity, especially to upcoming players, to prove in such a fine environment that gives you a feeling of an international match. It wasn’t a good
start on the field but off the field, I think we are heading towards a right direction,” Khadka said.
Gurkhas captain Basanta Regmi said his side wanted to move ahead with a victory. “All of us here wanted to play and win the game today but unfortunately that didn’t happen. It doesn’t give a good feeling when you cannot do anything due to rain,” said the national team veteran left arm spinner.
Regmi said rain killed off the excitement which was there was in the morning. “We were pretty excited because we were taking to
the field after a long time. There are youngsters in our side who had been waiting to prove themselves and move ahead but rain ruined it all,” said Regmi.
Khadka’s side had crushed Gurkhas by eight wickets in the 50-over competition
under then-Nepal Premier League. Khadka, however,
was happy to share the points. “I think more than losing points, we shared them. We cannot control the weather. Lets hope that weather clears because this tournament needs to go ahead,” added the Nepali skipper.
Organisers Zohra Sports Management (ZSM) managed to stage the opening ceremony in the presence by Youth and Sports Minister Daljit Shripali. All the participating franchises hoisted their team’s flag, while Bajracharya and his band, who were scheduled to perform at 11:00AM, played their hit numbers at 3:30.