KATHMANDU: The national cricket team that earned the One Day International status received heroes’ welcome at Tribhuvan International Airport today.

Thousands of fans, along with newly-appointed Minister for Youth and Sports Jagat Bahadur Sunar, Secretary Mahesh Prasad Dahal and National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista, welcomed the team.

Skipper Paras Khadka described the ODI status as the biggest achievement in Nepal’s cricket history and said stakeholders needed to work together to preserve it for better future. “We have achieved what we had been dreaming of since childhood,” said Khadka. “We are hopeful that we can take Nepali cricket to new heights from this point,” he added.

The skipper said players completed their duty responsibly and it was the turn of the government and all those who call themselves stakeholders of cricket to work towards preserving the achievement. “The ODI status means we’ll get more ICC funds and a secure future for cricketers. We need a professional set-up to move forward,” he added.

Nepal began the ICC World Cup Qualifiers campaign with three consecutive defeats at the hands of Zimbabwe, Scotland and Afghanistan. Yet, mathematically, they were still in the race for Super Six. Nepal defeated Hong Kong and failed to make it to the next stage but the win kept their ODI status hopes alive.

In the playoff, Nepal registered a six-wicket win over Papua New Guinea before the Netherlands beat Hong Kong in another match. As the Netherlands had already been elevated to the ODI status, the results meant Nepal finished in top three among associate nations and were elevated to the ODI status. Nepal then lost to the Netherlands to finish eighth in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers.

Head Coach Jagat Tamatta warned the team against getting complacent. “The big question remains how we move forward with the ODI status and preserve it. In the past we had T20I status but we could do nothing. If things remain similar, we will get nothing out of it and will end up playing a couple of matches,” said Tamatta.

“We should have a new structure with the inclusion of two-day and four-day tournaments. We also need infrastructure to fully cash in on the ODI status,” he added.

(UPDATED)

Nepali Cricket Team welcomed at TIA

KATHMANDU: Nepal's cricket team has arrived home after playing the ICC World Cup Qualifiers held in Zimbabwe.

The team, who were recently accorded the ICC One Day status, received a warm welcome at Tribhuvan International Airport today.