Lalitpur, October 7

A 23-member youth cricket team is on Saturday leaving for India to play eight friendly matches against different clubs of West Bengal.

The team of Sports Science Academy-Nepal under National Sports Council will play a 40-over and two Twenty20 matches against Ashok Malhotra Cricket Academy of Kolkata, while it is scheduled to play a 40-over match against Medinipur District Cricket Academy. The

team will then play four T20 matches against Medinipur Mahakuma Cricket Academy and Jhargram Cricket Academy in their nine-day tour.

Priyanshu Shrestha is the skipper of the team that includes Bhargav Chataut, Kishan Man Maleku, Kshitiz Neupane, Hridaya Giri, Avishkar Joshi, Rohit Rana, Bipin Shahi, Kaushal Shrestha, Nischal Amatya, Nitish Karna, Sworup Shrestha, Aryan Swami Mapa, Ronak Prajuli, Pemba Lama, Kalil Giri, Prashana Adhikari and Prithvi Raj.

Manjoor Alam is the coach, while Padam Bista is the physiotherapist. Likewise, Anita Ghimire, Bishwajit Rana and Mahesh Man Maleku are team managers.

According to coach Alam, the team members were picked up from 44 players who received training from Sports Science Academy for the last three years. Meanwhile, national cricket team vice-captain Gyanendra Malla bade farewell to the team at the International Sports Complex. “The tour is the best platform for the youth team as cricketers need exposure. This is the best opportunity for the young cricketers. I am sure that some of these cricketers will represent national team one day,” said Malla.

Team skipper Priyanshu Shrestha said the team members were excited about the tour. “Our target is to learn from the tour and we will try our best to put up a good show in India,” he said.

Coach Alam said the cricketers needed exposure and the tour would be beneficial for the young players. “These cricketers have potential and the tour will give them exposure. They can learn a lot from the outing,” he said.