KATHMANDU: The Springwood Twenty20 National Cricket Tournament began here at the Tribhuvan University Stadium amidst blame game between the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and the venue in-charge.

While CAN General Secretary Tanka Paneru claimed the association had released the required budget for the venue preparation one month earlier, TU Stadium ground in-charge and Curator Pandey said he was unable to trim the grass due to the problems with cutting machines.

"As per the requisition made by (Komal) Pandey, we had released the amount a month earlier," claimed Paneru. "As we have fulfilled his demands, he should do his duty properly," he added. "He does not even obey the CAN directives. His contract is expiring in two months and if we remain at the office by then, we will not renew his contract," said furious Paneru.

Pandey, on the other hand, dismissed the claims made by Paneru and hit back the association. "I have not received any money and I could not bring the technician as they (CAN) have not paid the earlier dues to the person," he said. "My job is to inform the CAN about the problem. Rest is their responsibility," he said.

Whatever the reasons be, it is the players who had to suffer on the grounds. The long grasses on the grounds created problems for the fielders and the batsmen were deprived of certain boundaries due to the slow outfield. Also, the players wore white dress and played with the 'red ball' in the Twenty20 tournament which is against the ICC rule itself.

The tournament is also the selection for the ACC Twenty20 Tournament to be held in November in the UAE where the players will have to wear the coloured jersey and play the white ball. The CAN officials said they were forced to do so due to the shortage of the ‘quality white balls' in the local market and it was too expensive to import from foreign countries. It's a shame on the CAN's part that the organisers of the UWTC Inter-corporate Twenty20 Tournament have been using white balls with players wearing colour dress.