Probably, play for the country and give a performance that would make the country proud, instill a sense of pride that would make one heed to the nation’s flag after a victorious feat.

But in cricket, there is more to it. Life of a cricketer doesn’t end with that single dream. There is another dream that a cricketer dreams of throughout the life — to play at the Lord’s, the Mecca of cricket, and make a century or complete a fifer to have their name scripted in the dressing room. It is not an easy dream, and not all dreams come true but to get it accomplished in an almost un-fashioned way is perhaps extraordinary, an achievement worth emulating.

In his over two-decade long stellar career, Indian batting legend Sachin Tendulkar had everything — century of centuries, highest number of Test tons (51) and one-day international triple figures (49), double hundred in ODIs and innings that always underlined him as the game’s maestro. But Sachin’s chequered career has a tiny spot on it; he has no century at the Lord’s.

Paras and his teammates have that big chance in their hands. This comes after Nepal offered with an opportunity to play at the Lord’s Cricket Ground in London on 19th July 2016. Marking a 200-year old bilateral relationship between the United Kingdom and Nepal, national cricketers will rub shoulders against the cricketers from Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) — world’s oldest cricket club.

Nepali cricketers have dreamed of playing in the World Cup, be it 50-over or Twenty20 and they had one of them successfully achieved. And for a tiny nation which is still one of the minnows in world cricket despite participating in one World Cup, an appearance at the Lord’s is going to be a dream come true for Nepali cricketers.

Lord’s Cricket Ground, established in 1814, is one of the oldest cricket grounds of the world and is owned by the MCC which governs the rules of the game. MCC itself is the oldest club of the world which was founded in 1787 and after the establishment of Lord’s, it has set up its base there.

The team dressing rooms at the Lord’s are adorned with honor boards which mark every century made in a Test match on the grounds, and all instances of a bowler taking five wickets in a Test innings, and 10 wickets in a Test match. Names up there include cricket greats like Sir Don Bradman of Australia, Englishman Graham Gooch and Aussie bowling legend Glenn McGrath to name a few.

Lord’s is also home to the world’s oldest sporting museum – the MCC Museum. It contains the most celebrated collection of cricketing memorabilia including The Ashes which reside there permanently. A stuffed sparrow is also on display; memorialized as the unlucky ‘bowled out’ victim of a deadly beamer delivery from Jahangir Khan of Cambridge University during a match in 1936.

National team skipper Paras Khadka has already been at the Lord’s in his personal visit to England and he was taken over by how it has treasured a long cricketing history. “Lord’s is Lord’s,” said Paras as he continued to remember his small tour.

“When I was there last time, I got to experience the reverent aura of that place. Everything is special about it, the ground, pavilion, player’s dressing room and others. I had dreamt of playing there one day but didn’t know then if it was possible,” he added.

But finally they have the opportunity to be there. Like any sportsperson, Paras shares his excitement to represent the country at such a historical venue and at such a big occasion to mark the Nepal-UK 200-year bilateral relationship. “We don’t have a long cricketing history and to be at the Lord’s is of course a wonderful feeling for us”, he sums up his zeal.

The tour to Lord’s will also be an opportunity for the Nepali team to showcase the world what they have got. The Nepali skipper however, adds that the country needs to get a chance to be there for a Test match. “If Nepali cricket does well in next five or 10 years, we hopefully will be able to play at Lord’s,” he says.

The MCC has already assured that a strong squad will take to the field to play Nepal ensuring a fierce competition. The battle for Nepal at the home of cricket is not going to be a mere competition staged during a charity but a clash that would keep both sides pumped up. For Nepal, one of the biggest dreams in its sporting history would be realized.