Kathmandu, November 16

The International Cricket Council has said that the world cricket governing body was not convinced with the working ways of Cricket Association of Nepal and warned the CAN of potential fine from the development funds.

“ICC has highlighted to CAN on many occasions over the past 18 months that in order for cricket to realise its significant potential in Nepal, a range of governance and administration reforms were required. ICC remains unconvinced that such reforms have been sufficiently addressed,” the ICC said in a letter sent to update CAN on discussions held at the ICC Board meeting regarding the Nepal’s cricket board.

The Development Committee of ICC had decided to give one last chance to CAN to rectify its modus operandi to deal with cricketing activities. In a meeting held in the United Arab Emirates from October 12-14, the Development Committee had reached a conclusion that the existing officials were not able to carry out activities in Nepal.

“From a governance perspective, until June this year CAN had not held its AGM since 2013. This has resulted in the withholding, and potential deduction, of over $600,000 of ICC funds earmarked for Nepal since the end of 2014,” said Tim Anderson, Head of Global Development, in the letter acquired by The Himalayan Times. “ICC is also aware that the National Sports Council has recently written to CAN with a number of concerns.

In this regard we have been contacted by the NSC Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista to provide our views,” the letter stated. CAN had set the dates of November

“From an administrative perspective, in our correspondence dated July 16, we highlighted concerns that fundamental organisational requirements were not satisfactorily addressed prior to Nepal competing in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier 2015. This included the fact that a team manager did not travel with the team, and was not with the team for several weeks of the tour.

The absence of a competent team manager negatively impacts the performance of the players and coaching staff, and this was not the first time the ICC had raised issues with managers of Nepal’s national teams.”

The ICC also raised issues related to financial management. “For some time ICC has been encouraging CAN to improve its financial management systems. It was therefore troubling that a host of recommended changes to financial policies, including, but not limited to, delegated authorities, payment processes and overall financial procedures were either not tabled or not approved at the AGM in June.

The lack of progress with the Mulpani ground development, and ongoing uncertainty about decision making within CAN about the proposed Nepal Premier League, are two further long standing issues that remain unresolved.”

The ICC letter continued: “These were just some of the issues relating to CAN that were discussed during the recent round of ICC Board meetings.

The Board subsequently decided that ICC funding to Nepal should remain withheld, while dialogue with the NSC should take place, as should a visit to Nepal to meet with the relevant authorities. Noting your advice that several previously suspended members of the CAN Board have now been reinstated, it would be appreciated if those now responsible for liaising with the ICC can provide an update on CAN’s intentions regarding all of these matters.

In the meantime, ICC is able to consider the provision of some controlled funding to support national team activities. Your request of $11,000 will therefore be considered, while any further requests for payments in this regard should also be made.”