PM announces cash prize for cricket team

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Feb. 24: Prime Minister Puspa Kamal Dahal (Prachanda) on Thursday announced to honour all the team members of the National cricket team with a cash prize of Rs. 200,000.

Premier Dahal announced the award for the national team’s feat of clean sweeping the trilateral series under ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup League-2 held at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. 

Nepal won all of its doubleheaders against the League -2 champions Scotland and Namibia in the series. 

Congratulating the national team members at his official residence Baluwatar, PM Dahal said the clean sweep was a historic moment. 

“First of all, I would like to congratulate all the team members for setting a new record and creating history by winning all four matches of the series.” 

“Winning all four matches in the series was not a joke. This is a moment of pride for the nation. 

“Best wishes for the upcoming international matches. Moreover, I would like to announce a cash prize of Rs.200,000 from the government for each team member,” PM 

Dahal added.

“The success cricket has achieved has motivated me individually to do better politics. I am always ready to solve the problems of sports.” 

Squad named for UAE series

The Cricket Association of Nepal announced the national squad for the Trilateral series under ICC World Cricket League-2 in the UAE. The double-header series, participated by Nepal, the UAE and Papua New Guinea, will start on February 27.

The domestic cricket governing body has named a 15-member squad excluding Leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. 

Lamichhane, released on conditional bail on the alleged raping charge, has been barred from leaving the nation by the Patan High Court. 

The 22-year-old bowler has picked 13 wickets in the League-2 Trilateral series that concluded at TU Cricket Ground, Kirtipur on Tuesday. Nepal clean swept the series by winning all four matches of the series against Scotland and Namibia. 

CAN also leave out Surya Tamang for the UAE tour. Despite being in the team, Left-arm spinner Tamang did not play any match of the League-2 series played at Kirtipur. 

Leg-spinner Mausam Dhakal has made it into the squad from the reserve list while Aarif Sheikh also made a comeback for the UAE series. The selection committee of CAN also selected Right-hand pacer Pratis GC 

for the series. 

Nepal is in the sixth position in League-2 with 26 points from 28 games. To retain the ODI status Nepal needs to remain in the top five positions 

in the league. 

Squad: 

Nepal will take on the bottom spot PNG in the first match of the series on Monday. Nepal will then meet the host UAE on March 2. The second match against PNG and the UAE will be on March 3 and  6 respectively.

Squad: Rohit Paudel, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Gyanendra Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Jora, Sompal Kami, Karan K.C, Lalit Rajbanshi, Gulsan Jha, Bhim Sharki, Pratish GC and Mausam Dhakal.