CAN dismisses fixing allegation as fake

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Jan. 5: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Wednesday dismissed the allegation of spot-fixing at the Nepal T20 League as fake news. 

Issuing a press release on Wednesday, the cricket’s governing body of Nepal said “its attention has been drawn towards the fabricated news claiming the match/spot-fixing at Nepal T20 League”. 

Committing to ending the activities that harm the integrity of Nepali cricket and the nation, CAN requested to report on the match-fixing with the evidence to its headquarter or to the Anti Corruption Unit of Nepal T20 League. The Association, in its release signed by Acting Secretary Prasant Bikram Malla, also asked to not spread baseless and fake news regarding the integrity of the league. 

The allegation of spot-fixing rocked the Nepal T20 League on Tuesday after Kathmandu Knight’s Captain Gyanendra Malla revealed his teammate was approached by the punters. 

Before Malla’s revelation, the league’s commentator Sachin Timalsena claimed about the spot-fixing through his social media post.  

Following the allegation, the Ministry of Home Affairs has instructed the Nepal Police to investigate the spot-fixing in the Nepal T20 League. 

The Nepal Police, following the instruction from the ministry, has already started an investigation into the incident.

Meanwhile, the National Sports Council, the administrating body of Nepali sports, also formed a five-member team to investigate the controversies regarding the Nepal T20 League.

In its press statement, the Council said the inquiry team led by its executive member Akendra Bahadur Kunwar will find out the fact of the work permit of foreign players and other alleged wrongdoings by the CAN.  The Council has given 15 days’ time to the inquiry team to find the fact and report to it. 

Lumbini, Biratnagar wins Lumbini ALL Stars claimed its eighth victory by thrashing Kathmandu Knights by 102 runs at the Nepal T20 League on Wednesday.

Leader Lumbini with 16 points on the table has already booked its place in the qualifiers. Electing to bat first, Lumbini collected 183 runs losing six wickets in the 17 overs match. Kathmandu, in reply, was bundled out for 81 runs in 15.4 overs. The toss of the first match was delayed after the late arrival of Kathmandu’s team at the TU Cricket Ground. 

Harry Tector, Ishan Pandey and Kushal Bhurtel picked two wickets each in the dismissal of Kathmandu.  BasirAhamad (22), Gyanendra Malla (15), Lokesh Bam (15) and Kamal Airee (16) were the two-digit scorers for Kathmandu. 

Earlier, Harmeet Singh led the batting onslaught of Lalitpur with 36-ball 70 runs that included eight maximums and two boundaries. Lahiru Milantha (26) and Gulsan Jha (21) were the other top scorers for the leader. 

Abinash Bohara dismissed three batters of Lumbini. Kathmandu has eight points from eight matches so far and sits in third place. In the second match, Biratnagar Super Kings notched up a six-wicket win over Far West United with three balls to spare. 

Biratnagar successfully chased the victory target of 157-run forwarded by Far West in 19.3 overs with 158/4 on the scoreboard. Captain Rohit Paudel smashed a 42-ball 60 and Pradeep Airee chipped in with a 26-ball 40 in the chase of Biratnagar. 

Batting first, Far West got most of the runs from Binod Bhandari (38-ball 45). Captain Hashatullah Shahidi (27) and Karan KC (21 not out) also gathered significant runs for the Far West. 

The win put Biratnagar in fifth place with six points from eight matches while Far West sits at the bottom with two points from seven matches.