CAN calendar published

REPUBLICA, KATHMANDU, Nov 10:

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is planning to send the Nepali cricket team for training abroad as part of preparations for the upcoming 11th South Asian Games (SAG). The SAG will be held in Dhaka from January 19 to February 8, 2010.

Cricket is being included in the biggest sporting event of South Asia for the first time. Players below 21 years of age will participate in the cricketing event.

“We have taken the SAG seriously. The age group players that will compete in the SAG will reflect the future national team. The SAG players will also get an opportunity to participate in the Pepsi World Cricket League Division-5,” said Chairman of CAN Binaya Raj Pandey.

According to Pandey, CAN is preparing to train the players in Kolkata and the decision will be finalized by next week. The players were scheduled to be trained in Bangladesh but the SAG host canceled the program citing busy schedule.

Nepali players got chances to play friendly matches with international teams after Nepal started exchange program with the test playing countries. Nepal´s national team is set to play a practice match in Delhi next week as part of the preparation for ACC Twenty-20. The CAN will give continuity to the exchange program in the new calendar as well.

Paras Khadka named cricket captain

REPUBLICA, KATHMANDU, Nov 11:

Paras Khadka has been named the captain of national cricket team for the ACC Twenty20 Elite Cup. Paras, 23, will be the eighth cricketer to lead the national team when he will lead the team against Malaysia on November 22 at Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Binod Das, whom Paras succeeded, is in the 14-member squad announced on Wednesday. The squad consists two debutants – Naresh Budayair and Binod Bhandari.

Others in the team are Mehboob Alam, Sanjam Regmi, Paresh Lohani, Dipendra Chaudhary, Gyanendra Malla, Sarad Vesawkar, Shakti Gauchan, Basant Regmi, Amrit Bhattarai and Mahesh Chhetri.

Rahul Kumar BK, Ajay Rajbanshi and Chandra Sawad are named as alternatives.

The team will be managed by Naresh Kumar Shrestha while Roy Luke Dias will be the coach. Manjur Alam Khan has been named Dias’ deputy.