The performance of the Nepali team in the CWC League-2 should be their launching pad into high-level international cricket. Coach Desai will definitely consider this aspect seriously
The last match of the Cricket World Cup (CWC) League-2, played at the Kirtipur International Cricket Ground (KICG) on March 16, was a high scoring cliffhanger that Nepal ultimately pulled out of archrival UAE's throat. That match was the icing on the cake for the Nepali team who performed exceptionally in the tournament.
The Rhinos, as the Nepali team is fondly addressed as, have authoritatively won 11 out of the 12 matches in the tournament. This incredible performance under the mentorship of Coach Monty Desai and leadership of young skipper Rohit Paudel has retained Nepal's One Day International (ODI) status for the next four years, and the team has booked a direct berth in the CWC Qualifier, to be held in Zimbabwe in June-July. Two teams out of five from the Qualifier will secure their places in the CWC that will be hosted by India, later this year.
Thousands of Nepal cricket fans witnessed the historic moment that propelled Nepal into the CWC Qualifier. The sea of Nepali fans at the KICG was a sight to cherish in a cricket bud-ding country like Nepal.
Nepal is gradually making its place in the global cricketing arena. Despite a long global history, cricket has gained popularity in Nepal only during the last few decades.
The modern-day cricket is believed to have been invented in early 17th century in England. Gradually, cricket made its way into British colonies in North America, South Asia, West Indies, Australia, New Zealand and South Africa during the 18th and 19th centuries.
The game is still very popular in these former British colonies, and the countries of these regions are currently the powerhouses of cricket.
Lt.-Gen Madan SJB Rana had introduced cricket to Nepal in the 1920s. However, it was initially limited only to the ruling Rana family and some elites of Kathmandu. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) was formed in 1946 to promote the game and address various issues of cricket in an organised manner.
Unlike in the neighbourhood (India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Bangladesh), cricket took a rather slow pace in Nepal. It remained within the close circle of the Kathmandu elites formany decades. India won its maiden World Cup in 1983, and Nepali spectators were also inspired by this incredible feat. Cricket finally was expanded outside of Kathmandu, and the popularity of the game increased in Nepal. In 1996, Nepal became an associate member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) and participated in the first international tour-nament, the Asian Cricket Council (ACC) trophy held in Kuala Lumpur.
It was a journey upwards for Nepal from then onwards, the highest point being the 2014 ICC world Twenty20 tournament, Nepal's first and only appearance at a major ICC event.
In 2018, Nepal attained the ODI status for five years, a prestigious feat for any cricketing nation. This status has been extended for the next four years after Nepal's brilliant performancein the CWC League-2.
Nepali cricket was recently smeared by grave controversies that include the disastrous Nepal T20 league marred by a notorious spot fixing scandal, financial exploitation of the players, illegal betting scams and non-transparent contract with a controversial Indian agency.
Moreover, the blatant controversy associated withdeposed skipper Sandeep Lamichhane had tarnished the image of Nepali cricket in the global cricketing arena.
To pile on, media and former coaches had openly revealed that the dressing room environment was not exultant. The former coaches had also openly criticised the arrogance and naivety of some of the senior-level players after they got ample international exposure.
Despite all these hurdles, the Rhinos have deliveredfrom down under to win 11 matches under the mentorship of newly appointed coach Monty Desai. Desai is known to be a well-wisher of Nepali cricket for many years. After his appointment, his first commitment was to create a happy dressing room for positive outcome, which he has accomplished within a short span of his tenure.
Nepal seems to have found their perfect mentor.
For a juvenile team like Nepal, the contribution of a coach/mentor is very crucial in boosting the morale of the players, teaching the inexperienced players to believe in themselves and igniting a competitive instinct in the team. Desai seems to have excelled in this endeavour as well, as there were different match winners in different games.
The whole tournament exhibited a wonderful display of a perfect teamwork of Nepali players. This was, in fact, the best performance of the Rhinos in both batting and bowling departments in a particular tournament.
It was heart wrenching to witness the downfall of Nepali cricket in recent times, especially before the team's stunning CWC League-2 performance. Being a big admirer of cricket and having played street cricket my whole childhood, it was very agonising to witness Nepali cricket in a sorry state. However, the incredible feat of the Rhinos in the CWC League-2 to retain the ODI status has reignited the cricket passion in a Nepali cricket fan like me.
The performance of the Nepali team in the CWC League-2 should be their launching pad into high-level international cricket. Coach Desai will definitely consider this aspect seriously. As the Monty magic has prevailed in 11 games of the last leg of the CWC League-2, the future of Nepali cricket seems to be in safe hands for the next few years. However, Nepal can't afford to be complacent yet, as the real challenge in the form of the CWC Qualifier is only a couple of months away. It will be a dream come true for all Nepali cricket fans to watch the Rhinos locking horns with the powerhouses of cricket in the CWC in India. Good luck to Monty Desai and his boys in blue.
Dr Joshi is senior scientist and neurobiologist at Martin-Luther University Halle-Wittenberg, Germany (pushpa.joshi@gmail.com)