Sports
Nepal set to host first int’l wheelchair T20 cricket
Wheelchair Cricket Association (WCA), Nepal is organising the first International Wheelchair Cricket Tournament on December 14-16.Wheelchair Cricket Association (WCA), Nepal is organising the first International Wheelchair Cricket Tournament on December 14-16.
The tri-series will be played in Twenty20 format and involves wheelchair cricket teams from Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Hosts Nepal will meet Bangladesh in the tournament opener, while on the second day India will meet Bangladesh in the first match and Nepal will play India in the second. The top two teams after the round robin league will meet in the final.
All the matches will be played at the TU Stadium grounds. WCA, Nepal said it began the process to form the wheelchair cricket team almost a year ago. “The current team is formed after we picked up the best players from the three teams who have been playing wheelchair cricket,” said WCA, Nepal President Chhultim Sherpa. “We played a competitive match for the first time last year with a friendly match against Pakistan wheelchair team. From there on we have been looking forward to form a national team. We had lost slightly against Pakistan but this time around we have had good preparations,” added Gurung.
Nepali team skipper Himal Aryal was hopeful that his side will return with positive result from the tournament. “We have worked very hard. Since we are playing in our own backyard on a back of support from the home crowd, we will definitely be encouraged to do better. Lets hope for the best,” said Aryal.
The tournament is supported by Sushil Koirala Memorial Foundation and Kathmandu Cricket Training Centre (KCTC) is providing the technical assistance. The team had their training camp set at the KCTC facility in Sanepa. Digam Singh Chejong, Bharat Karki, Raju Katuwal, Dambar Thapa, Dan Bahadur Thing, Khani Narayan Poudel, Bishnu Adhikari, Jung Bahadur Ruchal Magar, Bipin Poudel, Yam Bahadur Shrestha, Nabin Rai, Ram Bahadur Tamang and Raju Gurung are the other members of the Nepali team.