Kathmandu, November 28

Nepal Sports Management has officially started the Nepal Cricket School at Velocity Arena in Kathmandu on Saturday.

Nepal’s national team coach Pubudu Dassanayake, skipper Paras Khadka and Sri Lankan Ambassador for Nepal WM Senevirathne jointly inaugurated the facility that has five indoor wickets and is also equipped with latest technologies.

The NSM has laid international-standard artificial turf brought from ICC Global Academy in Dubai.

Coach Dassanayake said the facility would help in the development of cricketing culture in Nepal. Skipper Khadka said the school was Nepal’s one of the biggest facilities and the national players could train at the school.

Ambassador Senevirathne lauded the contributions of former coach Roy Dias and Dassanayake in the development of Nepali cricket. “Sri Lanka is ready to help Nepal cricket by all means,” he said.

Former national team skipper Binod Das is the director of the School, while former player Kalam Ali has been appointed as a chief coach. One of the board members Akur Rimal informed the School was equipped with bowling machine, speed gun and flood light.

Another member of the board Sandesh Katuwal said they would train 200 students in the beginning and organise U-14 and U-16 indoor tournaments in future. “We are also planning to include badminton and table tennis facilities in future,” he added.

Earlier, Dassanayake met with Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli. According to PM’s Press Advisor Pramod Dahal PM Oli thanked Dassanayake for his contribution in Nepali cricket. Dassanayake said he was honoured to meet the PM.

Dassanayake, who submitted the resignation ending his four-year stay in Nepal, returned to Canada this evening.