CAN ponders indoor facility at TU Stadium

HIMALAYAN NEWS SERVICE

KATHMANDU: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is mulling the construction of indoor nets at the Tribhuvan University (TU) Stadium, the cricket governing body General Secretary Ashok Nath Pyakurel revealed here today.

The indoor facility, however, will be a temporary one only to avoid monsoon, that has been hampering teams' preparations for the international tournaments. “It is not going to be a full-fledged and sophisticated indoor facility with all kind of facilities. We were looking for options on how to engage our players during monsoon when we have international matches. So we are planning to design tin-roofed nets,” informed Pyakurel.

Pyakurel further added the construction of indoor nets would be one of the infrastructure under the proposed National Cricket Academy (NCA). “To start working under the concept of NCA, we have already transformed the old store house at the TU Stadium into a gymnasium and the indoor nets will be another part of it,” he said.

CAN Member Kiran Rana said the CAN board meeting had principally agreed to construct the indoor nets following a request from coach Pubudu Dassanayake.

“The coach asked us to set up an indoor facilities at the TU Stadium and the board meeting gave a go ahead. Pubudu has taken it very positively,” said Rana. The NCA — which will run under various structures — is a brainchild of coach Dassanayake.

Rana said the construction work will begin at the end of the year. “I have already asked a civil engineer to bring us a rough sketch of the indoor nets. We will probably begin working on it in December when there will be no international matches. The indoor facility at the TU will have an astro turf and a cemented wickets,” Rana informed. Rana added a full-fledged indoor facilities would be constructed at the Mulpani Cricket Academy later.