Kathmandu, August 12

The most popular player in Nepal cricket, former skipper Binod Das, was felicitated with a car in a ceremony here today.

Das, who announced retirement on April 11, played his last match when he led Team Blue against Team Red during a Phillip Hughes Tribute Match at the TU Stadium. Das was bowling all-rounder for the national side and played his last match in 2012 when Nepal won the ICC World Cricket League Division-IV held in Malaysia. Das captained Nepal’s senior team from 2005-2008 before he handed over the baton to current skipper Paras Khadka in 2009.

Das was successful to win the first international trophy — ACC U-19 Cup — for Nepal in 2001. Das also led Nepal to the U-19 World Cup Plate championship final in 2002 where they lost to Zimbabwe which featured players like Brenden Taylor and Tatenda Taibu. His major achievement as Skipper was to lift the ACC Premier League Three-Day Competition in 2006.

Das made his international debut through ACC U-19 Asia Cup against Hong Kong in 1997 before he was called up for senior team in 2000. Das played his first match from senior side against the United Arab Emirates during the ACC Trophy. In his 68, 50-over match, Das claimed 76 wickets. He is currently working as an assistant coach of the national team as well as the coach of the National Cricket Academy.

Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) handed over the car key to Das for his contributions on Nepali cricket. Das said that he was not popular during his career as a player but now he has gained more. “I had a dream to do something for my family and get respect from the society. At current situation I have gained the respect and have achieved my childhood dream,” he said. “When I used to attend school I used to carry school bag along with cricket kits. The school bag used to feel heavy for me but the cricket kits were never heavy,” he added.

Das further added that he wanted to make his family proud. “During the initial stage of my life cricket was passion for me and later it gave me everything. I have not contributed for cricket but cricket has done a lot for me.” Das said that the game owes him nothing, but he owes it everything, the similar were the words of Michael Clarke during his announcement of retirement. “Cricket has paid me everything and the fame I got was from cricket.”

Das said that he had never thought of playing World Cup but had dreamed one day Nepal would participate on it. “When Nepal played their maiden World Cup in Bangladesh I was with the players in the stadium. When they were singing national anthem inside the ground, I was at one corner and doing the same. My dream on cricket was that Nepal would play World Cup but not me,” he added.

Das remembered his childhood friends who were always there for him. “I would like to thank my wife for pushing me every day to do better. They were always there for me. I had a dream for my family and now I am successful on doing so,” he added. “I cannot leave cricket.” Das said that he wanted to make his outgoing from cricket with a memorable moment. “I had asked car from the association so that the upcoming players will be motivated.”

Minister for Youth and Sports Purushottam Paudel handed over the key of car on the occasion. Rs 3.8 million worth car was provided by CAN, MoYS and Chaudhary Group and the government exempted the tax of 247 per cent. Minister Paudel said that he had known Das since his childhood as he was his neighbour. “I would like to wish best of luck to Das for his second innings of life. Das is the key figure in the development of Nepal’s cricket,” he added.

Skipper Paras Khadka said that he grew up seeing lean and thin Das playing cricket. “With the figure of Das, Nepal cricket has also developed. I would like to thank Nepal government, MoYs and others for the programme,” he said. “We have learnt many things from him and the level we are at current is because of his generation,” he added. “We all are happy at the moment and would like to request the ministry to continue this trend in upcoming years. Players are motivated by the move of the government.”

DIG Rana Bahadur Chand thanked Nepal government for the felicitation of Das. “If we invest in something we get best result and the move by the government will encourage many youth players to perform well in upcoming years,” said Chand. Rudra Raj Dhungel, a representative from Suzuki, said the players are gem and they need to be protected. “We need to take cricket to next level and the move by the government will encourage the players,” Dhungel added.

Secretary of Ministry for Youth and Sports Dipendra Nath Sharma referred Das as jewel of Nepali cricket. “Das was the first star of Nepali cricket and we are always there for players,” said Sharma.