The elected committee of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has said it would get as much flexible it can if it was about ending the standstill in Nepali cricket.

Nepal cricket has been under crisis, in terms of governance, for almost two years after the International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended the membership of CAN in the pretext of government interference and disputed elections. ICC had responded by forming an Advisory Group which was tasked to review the constitution and proposed amendment as per the ICC directive.

The elected CAN, which joined the Advisory Group lately, then had a series of tri-party discussions before taking the amendments to its Special General Meeting (SGM) on August 23 and decided to hold central elections by December 24. But the ICC termed the elections inappropriate claiming the amendments were passed against the past agreements.

After another series of meetings between the elected committee, Advisory Group and the ICC, CAN is now holding its SGM on Thursday and Friday which will be observed by the representatives from the supreme body of world cricket. “We just want to make sure that we will get as much flexible as we can to lift the suspension on Nepali cricket,” said Ashok Nath Pyakuryal, the general secretary in the elected committee.

“We have been portrayed as the villains off late. People have been talking a lot about us that the 17 member of the elected committee are seeking positions in the new body but that is not the case. We are ready to go with any short of flexibility if Nepali cricket gets a way out,” added Pyakuryal.

The Advisory Group had proposed an amendment that included the 17 executive members from the elected committee not be given voting rights in the SGM and can fight elections only after completing the required procedure. Pyakuryal informed that the recent development assures that the suspension on CAN will be lifted. 

“In our last correspondence with the ICC and the response provided by the National Sports Council, we firmly believe that we are heading towards a right direction. If the house - at the AGM - will have no resentment, the suspension on Nepali cricket will be lifted,” Pyakuryal assured.

Meanwhile, the ICC on Tuesday issued a press statement welcoming the elected committee’s decision to adopt the revised constitution. “The ICC has welcomed confirmation from the CAN of a SGM to be held on 19-20 April to consider constitutional change that will reform governance of the sport and pave the way towards reinstatement of ICC membership,” a release from the ICC said.

“Adopting the changes will enable CAN to move towards meeting the reinstatement conditions set out by the ICC in May, 2016. Following Nepal’s recent achievement of securing One Day International (ODI) status, the adoption of the revised constitution will ensure Nepal is on course for the consideration of reinstatement at the ICC Annual General Meeting (AGM) in July, 2018,” the release further read.

In the letter, ICC Deputy Chairman, Imran Khwaja said: “The ICC Board has been very clear in putting in place strict requirements which included the adoption of the constitution, addressing outstanding reinstatement conditions and subsequent elections in order for Nepal to be considered for readmission into membership of the ICC.”

According to the ICC, Nepal’s agenda will be put forward in its meeting in July and to get reinstated through the Annual General Meeting, CAN adopts the revised constitution without alteration.