New strategy on Nepali cricket soon: ICC

The International Cricket Council (ICC) that suspended Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Monday is preparing a strategy on Nepali cricket. In an email correspondence to Republica on Tuesday, the ICC informed that it will unveil the strategy soon. “The CAN has only been suspended yesterday (on Monday). After a strategy is devised, it will be shared with all the stakeholders,” said Sami Ul Hasan, the head of media and communications at the ICC. The ICC's suspension of the CAN was prompted by Nepal government's interference in the association. “…Until such time as the CAN becomes free of government interference and is properly structured to begin exploiting the tremendous cricket talent and opportunities that exist in Nepal, the membership of CAN will remain suspended,” ICC had mentioned in its press release issued Monday. Given the situation in Nepal, the suspension may continue for a longer period as the dispute between two cricket committees, which is currently being fought at the court of law, is likely to prolong. Chatur Bahadur Chand, who got elected as the president of CAN last year in an election held overnight, said that his side was serious about the development of cricket in the country and wanted to solve the problem as soon as possible. He, however, maintained that his side will not bypass the system. “We will cooperate with all concerned bodies as we don't want the deadlock to linger,” said Chand, who got elected as the president through an election that was not endrosed by the National Sports Council (NSC) and then outgoing president of CAN Tanka Angbuhang. However, Ramesh Silwal, who got elected as the president of the ad hoc committee formed by the NSC, said that the best way out of the existing situation was that the Chand-led committee withdraw the complaint filed at the Patan Appellate Court. The elected committee filed a writ at the court in January after the NSC suspended the elected committee. The court issuing an interim order in response to the writ, directed both bodies to suspend all official works until the final verdict. The final verdict on the case has yet to come. “This situation arose because of the dealy in settling the case by the court and the government decision to suspend the elected body and form ad hoc committee,” said Silwal, adding that he was ready to step back from his position if there was a better leadership that could work for the development of the game. “They should withdraw the writ petition and be willing to solve the problem through dialogues. Otherwise, the ICC should take measures to settle the situation,” added Silwal. Meanwhile, national cricket team skipper Paras Khadka said that the ongoing situation does not bode well for the Nepali cricket and the country's sporting sector. “Going into election without government's consent was a wrong decision, so was the government's decision to form the ad hoc committee by suspending the elected body,” said Paras, who added that both the bodies should have worked to resolve the situation as per the request of the ICC. “But they ignored ICC's call,” added Paras. Paras also reiterated that the ICC should appoint new faces to govern the CAN.

Keywords : ICC, CAN, Nepali Cricket