Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, April 29:

The national team cricketers today left for Bangalore to play three first-class one-day matches under the ACC Development Programme of Fast Track Countries Tour, which offers non-Test playing nations to play against Test playing nations.

According to Cricket Association of Nepal, the team is expected to play against the Ranji trophy players of Karnataka state. The first match is scheduled for May 2, followed by the matches on May 5 and 7.

"We have asked the Karnataka cricket board to give us a strong opponent, and since the event is under the ACC programme, we expect a tough opponents," said team manager Kiran Rana.

Coach Roy Luke Dias said that the tour will be one of the preparatory events for the upcoming ACC Trophy to be held in Malaysia from June 12. "Playing against Test-playing nations in different conditions and pitch would be helpful for the boys," said Dias.

Asked whether the boys were scheduled to have trainings in India, Dias said that he did not want anyone to come and train his boys. "I will take these boys to Sri Lanka for a week before heading towards Malaysia and I am even thinking of asking Chaminda Vaas to take a lecture there for the boys," he said.

CAN president Jai Kumar Nath Shah and other officials bade farewell to the team.

SQUAD: Raju Khadka (captain), Paresh Lohani, Shakti Gauchan, Sharad Vesawkar, Parash Luniya, Mehboob Alam, Dipendra Chaudhary, Manoj Katuwal, Sanjam Regmi, Raj Kumar Pradhan, Bikash Lal dali, Kalam Ali, Manjeet Shrestha, Raju Basnyat, Kanishka Chaugain; Kiran Shumsher Rana (manager), Chatur Bahadur Chand (assistant manager) and Roy Dias (coach).