Nepal needs better facilities: Warnapura


KATHMANDU: The Asian Cricket Council (ACC) Development Manager Bandula Warnapura said Nepal needed high quality facilities if they are to develop the cricket to next level.

“Cricket in Nepal will go up with the high quality facilities,” he said. He also hoped the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) would have its own facilities in near future. “ACC is investing in infrastructures and hopefully Nepal will have high quality facilities very soon,” added Warnapura, who led the Sri Lanka when they became a full-fledged Test-playing country in 1982. “We talked with the Minister (Youth and Sports Minister Ganesh Nepali) and he is also positive,” he added.

Apart from the Cricket Academy in Mulpani, the CAN — under the assistance of the ACC — is planning to develop grounds outside the valley including Pokhara and Bhairahawa. ‘There are enough lands which can be developed for cricket and the association here is working hard,” he added.

Warnapura, the opening batsman and medium pace bowler, said another problem of Nepali cricket was the gap between Under-19 and senior team. “Apart from the poor facilities, there is some sort of blockade in between the junior and senior level,” he said. “After U-19, there should be some tournaments for U-22 or U-23 before playing in the senior team,” said Warnapura. “I know there is no problem in the junior level. But I don’t like one think that the players are not mentally strong to play in senior level,” he added.

Regarding the national tournament structure, Warnapura said the players should get at least nine to eleven matches to play. “They (CAN) have to change the structure and I hope it will be get done by the end of 2009,” he said. “As Nepal have become a serious cricket playing nation from the friendly cricket playing nation, the CAN structure should also be changed.

“The officials have worked voluntarily to bring the cricket in this position. But the structure should be changed now. They should have a permanent CEO, Manager, accountant and national coach,” he said.