Kathmandu, January 17 We Will Rise Foundation today felicitated the youth cricket team members for earning a berth in the ICC U-19 Cricket World Cup to be held later this month in Bangladesh. The foundation handed over Rs 10,000 and letter of felicitation each to the 17 players and six officials. Senior artists Madan Krishna Shrestha and Hari Bansa Acharya along with comedians Deepak Raj Giri, Deepa Shree Niraula, actors Rekha Thapa, Sushma Karki, and players Raju Kaji Shakya, Deepak Bista, Anil Gurung, Deepak Shrestha, Manju Gurung, Anu Adhikari, Shiva Ram Shrestha, Parsuram Bastola, Sunil Lama, Mira Rai and Neera Rajopadhyay, singers Uday Sotang, Manila Sotang and Komal Oli among others feted the cricketers. The prime objective of the felicitation programme was to boost the morale of the players who are leaving for Bangladesh on Wednesday to participate in the WC, informed the Foundation, which was established with the intention of providing relief to the April 25 earthquake victims. Skipper Raju Rijal, vice-captain Aarif Sheikh, Sushil Kandel, Sandip Sunar, Dipendra Airee, Saurav Khanal, Prem Tamang, Sunil Dhamala, Dipesh Shrestha, Raj Bir Singh, Yogendra Karki, Lalit Narayan Rajbansi, Kushal Bhurtel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandip Lamichhane, Himansu Dutta, Shankar Rana and Ishan Pandey were the members of the team helped Nepal to qualify for the WC. Coach Jagat Tamatta, assistant coach Binod Das, managers Dhirendra Saud and Sudip Sharma, physio Dinesh Bhatta and technical analyst Raman Shiwakoti were the officials honoured in the programme. Coach Tamatta said the team had already crossed two steps and World Cup was the final step. “We will give our best and bring positive results in the tournament,” said Tamatta. Motivational speaker Ranjit Acharya promised jobs to three best players — batsman, bowler and fielder — in different corporate houses after the World Cup. Nepal qualified for the World Cup after they won the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Malaysia last year. Nepal are in Group D along with India, New Zealand and Ireland, who chipped in after Australia withdrew citing security concerns in Bangladesh. After playing two official practice matches, Nepal will take on New Zealand on January 28 before facing Ireland two days later. Nepal will then play their last league match against India on February 1.