[ad_1]
The development of cricket in more and more countries is a clear testament to its deepening and widening appeal. The game’s ability to produce highly dramatic and tense scenes can be seen in various places.
Nowhere was this more evident than last week in Nepal, a country not usually considered a cricketing nation in the minds of many.
Until the 1980s, the game was a niche activity, limited to Kathmandu. A major development program launched in the early 1990s increased race participation and facilities. This led to the Nepal men’s team participating in the Asian Cricket Cup, an international championship for the first time in 1996. In the same year, Nepal became an associate member of the International Cricket Council. Steady growth in performance led to ICC T20I status in 2014 and ODI status in 2018.
This was achieved in the dramatic fashion that has become a hallmark of Nepalese cricketing personality.
Nepal needed to win their last match in World Cup qualifiers and then hoped for Holland to beat Hong Kong, which they did. All this was against the backdrop of the Nepal Cricket Board being suspended by the ICC in 2016 for violating section 2.9 of the ICC regulations, which prohibits government interference and calls for free and fair elections. ICC approved conditional readmission in October 2019.
Nepal’s then-captain Paras Khadka spoke of “years of toil, persistence, sacrifice, commitment and hard work” after securing ODI status. He also mentioned the need to stabilize the domestic structure if the ambition to achieve ODI World Cup or even Trials status is to be realized. In the 10 years since 2008, Nepal has risen from Tier 5 to within arm’s reach of the big names.
One factor that is not lacking in China is the degree of support from fans. Nepal is considered the most enthusiastically supported ICC associate member. This enthusiasm sometimes spreads. In February 2010, when Nepal looked set to lose their Tier 5 match against the United States, the crowd threw objects on the pitch, causing an hour-long delay. That led to a revised goal that helped Nepal, who moved into Tier 4 on net runs at the expense of Singapore, which appealed. A conditional ban was imposed and an increase in the height of stadium walls ordered. Similar crowd disturbances at a match against the UAE in December 2011 led to a ban on ICC events in 2012.
There was no ban in 2013, when Nepal hosted the Asian Cricket Cup and reached the final, only to be defeated by Afghanistan. Between 15,000 and 20,000 people were reported to have attended the group stage matches, increasing to 25,000 for the semi-finals and finals, without causing crowd disturbance.
Hundreds of thousands of people watched the game live on television. An explanation for this support could lie in the composition of the squad, which includes homegrown players who have progressed through their age groups. It may also be that there was no ticketing arrangement in the past.
Even though it is reported that this is not the case for Nepal vs UAE on March 16, 2023, it could be. The occasion was filled with anticipation. This is the last match of 134 matches in League 2 of the ICC 2023 ODI World Cup Qualifiers.
The result will finalize the third team to advance to the next stage, just one step away from the World Cup in India in October and November. Scotland and Oman finished first and second respectively, with Namibia third, one point ahead of Nepal.
In early February 2023, Nepal seemed to have little chance of finishing third, languishing in the penultimate position. The Emirates are in a much better position but have been underwhelming in their last 10 games, winning just three.
Surprisingly, their defeats included three defeats to bottom side Papua New Guinea. Nepal, on the other hand, have won 10 of their last 11 matches ahead of their final match against UAE, who are out in the race for third place.
Long lines formed hours before the game. Later, people climbed the surrounding walls and trees until the gate and its guards were breached. The Tribhuvan University Cricket Stadium in Kirtipur, Kathmandu is one of only two venues in Nepal to host international matches. It had a capacity of 18,000, but witnesses said more than 25,000 were allowed on the ground. They were disappointed by the progress of the UAE, who managed a tally of 310 including the fastest century by an ODI cricketer.
In response to the huge goal, Nepal lost three wickets cheaply before rebuilding. A shower put the crowd’s nerves on edge as Nepal trailed on par. They grew more nervous as they witnessed the UAE’s tactics of slowing down the game.
Fears of riots have risen. Some Nepalese players implored supporters to remain calm. Then, at 5:37 p.m. local time, after 44 overs, the umpires decided it was too dark for the game to continue. Nepal scored 269 in six overs. According to the DLS system used to calculate game breaks, Nepal’s goal at the time was 260. Another victory in dramatic circumstances against a very unhappy old rival.
The UAE will now participate in the playoffs in Namibia from 26 March to 5 April. This includes the bottom four teams in League 2, as well as Canada and Jersey, which won the side challenge.
The UAE’s ODI status is under threat as the two highest-ranked teams in the UAE, Namibia, Canada and Jersey will secure ODI status for the 2023-2027 World Cup cycle. Leading UAE players compete in the DP World ILT20 league in January and February.
Since then, the team’s performance has stagnated severely, while new stars in Nepal have been rising.
[ad_2]
Source link