Host honour for ICC tourney
KATHMANDU: Roy Luke Dias, national cricket coach, has said that hosting the World Cricket League (WCL) Division-V tournament in the capital would be a great opportunity for the game in the country. “This is a big event. Nepal stands to benefit a lot from it. It will bring in foreign teams and players apart from the officials,” said the former Sri Lankan Test international.“If we can make a good impression, then we will be able to take the game in Nepal to new heights,” he added. Dias, however, pointed out the need for infrastructure. “We can develop Nepal as one of the best destinations as the weather is ideal for cricket,” he reasoned. The Development Committee meeting of the International Cricket Council (ICC), which was held last week in Dubai, awarded the hosting rights of WCL Division-V to Nepal. The tournament — slated to be held in January next year — will be the first opportunity for the nation to host an ICC event. Nepal, along with Fiji, Jersey and the USA, is in Division-V. While, two top teams from Division-VI will take part in the upcoming tournament. As per the format, two teams will qualify for the WCL Division-IV, to be held in Italy in June 2010. While, five teams from the WCL tournaments will qualify for the World Cup in 2015.