KATHMANDU, SEPTEMBER 29

Cricket Association of Nepal Secretary Ashok Nath Pyakuryal and Vice-president Raju Babu Shrestha stepped down from their posts today.

"We have decided to stop down from our responsibilities in CAN from immediate effect as we believe it's high time to make way for others," said Pyakuryal at a press meet. "We put in our best efforts to bring the derailed CAN back to its track after we got elected two years and we are resigning from our posts with the sense of accomplishment," he added.

"CAN faced the worst turbulence in the last decade or so and we had the responsibility of settling down all the issues. It took us two years to resolve all the problems faced by the CAN and today we can proudly say that the association in on the right track," said Pyakuryal.

"We are leaving the CAN in such a strong position that no one can challenge its legitimacy, whether it is local or international body."

Pyakuryal said his involvement in the sport dated back to his teenage period as a cricketer.

"It's been more than 40 years I am in cricket, as a player and administrator. Similar is the case with him (Raju Babu Shrestha). We have seen so many ups and downs in these four decades and we worked out of love and passion towards the sport," he said. "Our team fought hard for the legitimacy and we were able to send the message, loud and clear, that CAN is the only replacement for CAN, and nothing else can be the option to replace it," said, indicating towards the fight with National Sports Council, who had formed an ad hoc committee instead of legitimating the elected body.

Vice-president Shrestha said the CAN was being run by system and it did not need officials on daily basis. "We have recruited competent employees to handle the day-to-day activities and the board is just there to make policies. Time has changed now and we did not want to cling on to the post. We have put in our efforts to create this situation and we believe the next generation should be groomed to take over the responsibilities," said Shrestha.