Nepali Team for ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship

How could anyone (or just Nepali cricket aspirers) forget Nepali squad winning the ACC U-19 Women’s Championship last year? Oh yeah and they also made headlines when they were awarded with the highest sum (one Lakh Nrs) in the Nepali cricket history from the government last month. Having said that all, the point I wanted to make is “Nepal is improving in the Women’s cricket scenario and the cricket industry could foresee a better future”. Meanwhile, the upcoming ACC Women’s Twenty20 Championship will also be crucial to decide Nepali Women Cricket’s fate. Nepali team has already left for the championship going to be held from 18th – 25th February 2011 in Kuwait.

Nepali Team headed to Pakistan today to play a friendly series of four T20 matches against the Pakistan women’s team before they go for the championship in Kuwait on 16th of February. The team will arrive in Lahore on February 9 and play their first match with Pakistan team on February 11. This should definitely help promote Women’s cricket in Pakistan and build some confidence to Nepali team ahead of the championship.

True that Nepali Women’s cricket has a short history but has already established good records. Nepali Women team made their international debut in the ACC Women’s Tournament in Malaysia in July 2007 where they went up to becoming the runner up for the championship. In 2009, the team finished third, defeated by Hong Kong in the semi-final. For 11, Nepal views Thailand as the main threat. Let see what’s in store for the Nepali Cricket team this season.

Nery Thapa, captain for Nepal’s cricket team who was also honoured with ‘Intelligent Special Player’ last month speaking to republica said that they will try to put up a good show, both during practice matches and the tournament. “We are strong in bowling and fielding and we will use these to keep the opponent under pressure. The practice match against Pakistan ahead of the tournament will be of great help to us.”

Here’s the squad of the Nepali team.

Nepal Women’s Cricket Squad

Players

• Nery Thapa (captain)
• Rubina Chhetri (vice-captain)
• Madhu Thapa
• Sita Rana Magar
• Sarita Magar
• Manita Gautam
• Rashmi Sharma Chaulagain
• Neera Rajopadhya
• Manisha Rawal
• Mamata Thapa
• Khina Kumari Thapa
• Janaki Kumari Bhatta
• Indu Barma
• Karuna Bhandari

→ For those interested in the match, can download the schedule of the tournament here.

If records such as the women team winning the ACC U-19 Women’s Championship last year and the Man’s U-19 team winning the ACC U-19 Elite Cup cricket tournament for four times (also being in the finale of this year championship) are something to go by, undoubtedly, Nepal is getting better in the games of cricket. To be honest though, Football still is the most dominant game in the country, however good the country may be getting with cricket. Huge sponsors and good attention from the government comparatively has added to fame of football in Nepal. Hopefully recent achievements in the Cricket will raise the popularity and attention of game in the country. What say?

P.S. Best of Luck to Nepali Women’s cricket team for the championship.

Update: Nepal have conformed their semifinal spot in the ACC Women´s Twenty20 Cricket Championship defeating host Kuwait by 47 runs on Sunday after being undefeated in the three matches played till date.