“The government is determined to develop cricket as the national sport,” PM Nepal said while inaugurating the Pepsi ICC World Cricket League Division 5 in Kathmandu. [break]
The matches of the event, a fourth-tier qualifier for the World Cup 2015, begins Saturday at three grounds with six teams -- Nepal, USA, Jersey, Fiji, Bahrain and Singapore -- competing for the title.
He also hoped that Nepal would qualify for the World Cup. “There have been initial achievements but a long journey remains for qualification in the World Cup,” he said. “I am waiting to see that day.”
PM Nepal also added that the government would work to provide international standard facilities to the cricketers and urged the International Cricket Council (ICC) to give Nepal more opportunity to host events and to support in development of the game.
PM Nepal on the occasion also unveiled the trophy to be awarded to the winner. Top two teams after the round-robin league qualify for the final and more importantly, to the WCL Division 4 to be played in Italy later this year.
Minister for Youth and Sports Ganesh Tiwari Nepali thanked ICC for giving Nepal the opportunity to host the event while tournament director Andrew Faichney thanked the government for the support.
ICC is organizing the event in association with the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). CAN President Binaya Raj Pandey said they are committed to making the event memorable.
On Saturday, Nepal take on Jersey, the finalists of the 2008 WCL Div 5, at the BSAM Ground, Bhaktapur while the finalists of the WCL Div 4 Bahrain and Singapore battle it out at the TU cricket grounds, Kirtipur. At IOE ground, Lalitpur, Fiji play USA.
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