Cricket Leads The New Generation

March 22, 2014 , by DREAMS, Leave your thoughts

Nepal Cricket team has exceeded the expectations of a vast majority of cricket fans, even the most optimistic ones, and have given Nepalis a reason to be proud. Even the harshest critics turned; such was the euphoria of the win that everybody started believing in Nepal, again.

Nepal’s middle order batsman Sharad Vesawkar lit up the post-match press conference room at the Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong after Nepal lost to Bangladesh by eight wickets in their second match of the ICC World Twenty20. “Cricket is a symbol of unity for us. We don’t have expatriates in our team. We are born in Nepal and play as a unit for our country. Though we have limited resources back home, we never make this an excuse.” Reporters from different media at the press conference room nodded to Sharad’s pin-point reply.

Just before the ICC World Twenty20 began in Bangaldesh, national cricket team skipper Paras Khadka was the one—among the six-non Test playing nations’ captains—to impress everyone around in Fatullah. “I think we are here to present Nepal cricket in front of the whole world. It is a great opportunity for us. It is not like we have only qualified for this tournament and worked for three months. We have been playing continuous cricket for 10-12 years with dedication. We are here to compete and play to the best of our ability. If we play to our potential, things should be good for us,” one of the stories posted in popular cricket website www.espncricinfo.com quoted the Nepali skipper as saying.

For the last one week, Nepali cricket has taken centre stage in the global media, where the simplicity and realistic attitude of the country’s cricketers have earned a lot of praise. Though Nepal’s first ever ICC World Twenty20 participation ended briefly following the exit from the Qualifying Stage, the country garnered a huge amount of respect in the global map through the sport.

Image Source: ICC

Paras’ story entitled “Here to present Nepal cricket to the world” was not the only story posted in cricinfo. The most popular website of world cricket covered several stories on Nepal and its youthful cricketers who have set an example with their effort.

Even before the first ball was bowled in front of a jam-packed Zahur Ahmed Chowdhury Stadium in Chittagong, a new era had already begun in Nepal. Coming from what was once listed among other normal sports, cricketers back home have become role models of sports, discipline and leadership.

On Thursday, 20 March 2014, (a date that will remain highlighted in Nepali Cricket’s history) in its final qualifying games, Nepal recorded strong win against Afghanistan, its first since 2004 in any format against its old rivals. It also gave the hope that Nepal might qualify to the next round should Hong Kong beat Bangladesh within 13 overs. Bangladesh was beaten by Hong Kong, giving all the cricket supporters a nail biting finale – coming close to knocking Bangladesh out of its own party, but the overs were not quite enough to knock Bangladesh out. Nepalis all across the globe united for this particular match. Even those Nepalis who have never followed cricket in their lives started believing that Nepal has something to offer in the world stage. Even the harshest critics turned; such was the euphoria of the win that everybody started believing in Nepal, again. Not only on that day but from the first match, against Hongkong, Nepal has been terrific beating Hong Kong with great margin. While Nepal didn’t record a win against the host country Bangladesh, it held its own with the bat against them.

While the critics and supporters had their doubts, Nepal Cricket team has exceeded the expectations of a vast majority of cricket fans, even the most optimistic ones, and have given Nepalis a reason to be proud. Paras Khadka, the Nepal captain, was elated but mature enough to temper that joy with guarded optimism about the future. “The two wins in this tournament mean a lot to us. Like I said before the tournament – we came here to compete. We have always tried to win every game that we have played for our country. It will always give us a great boost moving forward and push us to do better, as well as have a great impact on the youngsters who are coming up and want to play cricket,” said Khadka. “This was the first time we qualified and managed to win two games. So it is a great achievement in itself, which we are taking back home. But now the real journey begins. We have to do the home work and start again from the beginning and put the structure right back home and try to produce better results in future.”

Watching the cricketers in global sports channels and seeing them followed by media across the world means Nepal was now at the centre stage of the globe. That is something to cheer for this tiny Himalayan nation that has been ravaged by political uncertainties and economic crisis.

Before the tournament, DREAMS compiled the list of potential stars to shine in this tournament – check them out here – but every one of the cricketers have shone and made all the Nepalis all across the globe proud. Nepalis across the whole world celebrated each and every moment of Nepal’s matches in Bangladesh, because it was the first time that any sports discipline from the country has reached to this level. It was not only Paras Khadka, Sharad Vesawkar, Subash Khakurel, Gyanendra Malla or the young Som Pal Kami from Nepal that were playing. The cricketers represented every bit of Nepal.

Image Source: AFP

From an eight-year old kid to 80-year old grandfather from a remote village, from the rugged mountains in the Himalayas to the productive land of Terai, from Mt Everest to the birthplace of Lord Gautam Buddha in Lumbini, from most talented working developing the world changing phenomena in the western country to the hardworking labourer in middle-east, the world watched Nepal.

Nepal as a country was able to establish itself in front of the whole world through cricket, but more than this new-found love of the Nepalis, the countrymen have found exemplary leaders who are going to be inspiration for generations. Cricket is now going to be a benchmark for every Nepali involved in any field, where one seeks to excel. The cricketers have given energy to every Nepali who wants to reach to the apex on their own.