Himalayan News Service

Kathmandu, July 24:

Shakti Prasad Gauchan, vice captain of the Nepali national cricket team, has become the first cricketer to play for a London club after the left arm alrounder earned a chance to represent England’s first division cricket club. Shakti, who had gone to London earlier this month to play friendly matches for Worli Cricket Club of India, was hired by England’s Sileby T Cricket Club, which has been playing in the Leicestershire Everards League. “I have played three matches here and scored a ton in the first match against Fine Don Cricket Club, which earned me a £30-a-match contract from the Sileby T Cricket Club,” said Shakti in an e-mail sent to The Himalayan Times on Sunday. On Saturday, Shakti scored 78 not out and took a wicket in his team’s seven-wicket win over Ashby Hasting Cricket Club. “All my club members and officials are impressed with my performance and I have been asked to play some more matches for the club,” wrote Shakti. “I am enjoying my first trip to UK. I still have 10-12 matches to go with the club and I will be returning to Nepal in the second week of September,” he added. He was originally scheduled to go to London with Thane Cricket Club of Mumbai, but visa problems with some of the members of the club forced him to join Worli Cricket Club instead.