Kathmandu, November 25:

The International Cricket Council (ICC) big shots today said that Nepal had a good prospect in cricket and possess capability of organising more international tournaments in future.

ICC president Ehsan Mani and chief executive Malcolm Speed, who were here to attend the ICC Development Committee meeting, told the post-meeting press conference that Nepal could do better in future if the association here develops the infrastructures properly.

“We are obviously delighted to come to Kathmandu and very pleased that Nepal qualified for the Under-19 World Cup for the fourth time,” said Mani. “Nepal’s records in the past U-19 World Cups have been excellent and the potential of youth cricketers here is huge,” he added.

Mani also praised the cricket fans who turned up for the final of the recently held ACC Under-19 Cup in which Nepal beat Malaysia for the third successive time to qualify for the U-19 World Cup slated for Sri Lanka in February next year.

“You have got a tremendous cricket lovers which is a good sign for the sport,” he said, adding that the passion for the game was fantastic. “Nepal is now able to translate junior level success in senior level too,” he said.

Asked about the meeting, chief executive Speed declined to reveal the decisions saying it was too early to release the outcomes. “We had a deal with wide range of issues. There were presentation from Cricket Association of Nepal and Asian Cricket Council, and we also discussed about China, ICC events, women’s cricket, and finance,” he said.

Speed said that the meeting also discussed the issues relating the structure of tournaments for associate countries, and longer versions tournaments for them.

Both Mani and Speed praised Nepal’s presentation done by Cricket Association of Nepal president Jai Kumar Nath Shah, who is also the vice president of Asian Cricket Council.

“That was an excellent presentation and we came to know much about Nepal’s cricket,” said Mani, who was delighted to know that Nepal government was right behind the sport. “Without government support, no sport can go ahead and I am happy that Nepal government was keen to develop cricket in the country,” said Mani, who met with Education and Sports Minister R K Mainali earlier this morning.

Regarding the Asian Regional Cricket Academy in Kathmandu, Mani said that he was ready to lend his help for the project. “I will push the ACC about the issue and I want to make sure that happens,” he assured. Speed is scheduled to visit the site located in Mulpani, Gokarna, tomorrow.