Kathmandu, February 19

Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli today felicitated the national cricket team members and also announced the reward of Rs 300,000 each for earning berth in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers slated for March 4-25 in Zimbabwe.

PM Oli, who welcomed the cricketers, coaches and officials at his official residence in Baluwatar today, will hand over the rewards at a farewell programme on Friday. Oli said the government was planning to develop the sports sector of the country.

Meanwhile, Madan Bhandari Sports Academy President Binod Shrestha also announced the reward of Rs 100,000 each to the team members.

Nepal earned the Qualifiers berth after finishing in top two in the ICC World Cricket League Division-II held in Namibia from February 8-15. Nepal lost to the United Arab Emirates by seven wickets in the final.

The Nepali team will leave for Zimbabwe on Saturday to compete in the Qualifiers. The runner-sup finish in Namibia meant Nepal are in Group B along with hosts Zimbabwe, Scotland, Afghanistan and Hong Kong. West Indies, the United Arab Emirates, the Netherlands, Ireland and Papua New Guinea are in Group A.

Nepal will open the campaign with a match against Zimbabwe on March 4 and play their second match against Scotland on March 8. Nepal will then face Afghanistan in their third match on March 10 and wrap up the group-stage round with a match against Hong Kong two days later.

Top three teams from both the groups will make it to the Super League stage. The Qualifiers will send two teams to the 2019 World Cup, while the Netherlands plus three top associate nations will earn One Day International status for the next four years.