Kathmandu, March 14

National Sports Council Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista today said the International Cricket Council should be transparent about the fund they provide and spend in various activities for Nepali cricket team.

Bista demanded the details of the funds during a programme organised to hand over the allowances to the national cricket team members.

Member Secretary Bista handed over the daily allowance of Rs 600 to the national cricket team members who were under the close-camp for the World Cricket League Championship matches against Kenya for 31 days. Each player got Rs 18,600.

“As Cricket Association of Nepal has been suspended by the ICC, the global cricket governing body needs to inform the Nepal government know about the funds it spent for Nepali cricket team’s closed camp training and matches,” said Bista.

“We could have learnt about the use of funds from CAN if it had not been suspended. But at the present scenario when ICC has been doing everything on its own, we are not aware of the spending of Nepal’s money and how much fund Nepal is to receive from the ICC,” he added.

Bista was also unknown about how much money was raised from the gate collection of the ICC World Cricket League Championship matches between Nepal and Kenya held at the Tribhuvan University Stadium on March 11 and 13. Nepal lost the first match before bouncing back to beat the five-time World Cup finalists in the second game.

Bista said people who were running the cricket governing body in the country were responsible for the crisis in Nepali cricket. “Nepal government, Ministry of Youth and Sports and NSC are serious in solving the problems and the ICC has also responded positively,” Bista claimed. “After the formulation of the statute, the NSC will hold the fresh elections and ICC will be the observers.”

National cricket team skipper Paras Khadka said Nepal could lost its ICC membership if the country fails to convince the global cricket governing body by June. “If we lose the membership, it will be disastrous for Nepali cricket. So all the stakeholders need to work together to convince the ICC through the advisory committee,” said Khadka. “The players were made to raise the voice against the cricket governing body instead of focusing on their game,” he added.

Coach Jagat Tamatta said the Nepali cricket could be in turmoil if the suspension was not lifted. “It would be almost impossible to get the ICC membership if we lose it once. We are in fear about the future of Nepali cricket. Despite playing for the national team for 10 years, the players have not been getting enough support if they get injured,” said Tamatta. He also pointed out the need of new leadership to run the cricket governing body in the country.

The ICC — which has formed the Nepal Advisory Committee to draft the statute of CAN and hold fresh elections — has said that “after assessing the progress, Nepal’s membership of the ICC will be tabled for consideration at the ICC Annual General Meeting in June.”