By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – It has been 75 years since Nepal established diplomatic ties with the United States. A formal porgramme between the two countries related to sports was held this week after seven and a half decades of diplomatic relations. That too in the initiative of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).
Nepal’s national cricket team is heading to the USA this week to participate in the World Cup League-2. Besides Nepal, Oman will also compete in the series to be held in the USA.
CAN had organsied a programme on Sunday to bid farewell to the Nepali team heading to the USA for the league. During the programme, CAN President Chatur Bahadur Chand said that it will be the first time Nepal will play an official tournament in the USA. Nepali players and teams have played friendly matches and other tournaments in the USA in the past as well.
CAN’s Managing Director Britanta Khanal says that CAN took the initiative to deepen the ties with the USA through the medium of cricket.
“We took the initiative to expand our relation with the USA after it was fixed that the series will be held in the USA. The date coincided with 75 years of relation with the USA. The US embassy helped us a lot in visa processing,” he said.
It may be noted that Nepal’s incumbent cricket coach Pubude Dassanayake is a former coach of the US cricket team. He has a good knowledge of the US team and that is expected to benefit Nepal.
“A lot of US players of Nepali origin are playing cricket in the USA. They respected me a lot,” said Dassanayake. “I visited almost every state of the USA in search of talent.”
Nepal has six wins and six losses in League 2 so far and is in the sixth position among seven teams. Nepal will face Oman in the USA on June 9 followed by a match against the hosts USA on June 11. Nepal will play its second match against Oman on June 14 and then face the USA again on June 15.
Prior to the league matches, Nepal will play practice matches against Nepali All Stars and Houston Hurricanes on June 2. Last year, during the triangular series held in Nepal, the hosts had defeat the USA in both matches.
