Janakpur had filed the protest against the semifinal match in the Pepsi Standard Chartered National One-day Tournament claiming that the umpires violated playing condition intentionally by conducting the vital match between APF and Bhairahawa despite a damp outfield caused by rain.[break]
Had the match ended in no result, Janakpur could have gained entry into the final. Janakpur has been claiming that the umpires decided to go ahead with the match despite the rain and damp outfield to aid APF´s entry into the final.
Janakpur has been raising question over APF personnel being allowed to clear the ground of water during the particular match.
Meanwhile, the technical committee of the tournament headed by umpire Binay Jha issued a press release condemning the allegations against umpires.
“The match was conducted as per the ICC playing condition guideline. Umpires had the sole authority to decide the issues of ground condition, light and weather condition and the claim of Janakpur about pressure on umpires was a baseless claim,” reads the statement.
Jha also rebutted APF captain Paras Khadka´s claim that other factors become less important if captains are ready to play. “It is not true and no ICC guideline says such things,” Jha clarified.
Cricket umpires receive Level 2 certificates
Nepali cricket umpires, who participated in the Level 2 Umpiring Course conducted by Cricket Australia, received certificates on Sunday amid a function organized by Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) in the capital. Nepal also became the first country to get Level 2 accreditation.
Nepali umpires Buddhi Bahadur Pradhan, Binay Kumar Jha, Sanjay Gurung, Manohar Adhikari, Shirish Upadhyaya, Hira Lal Rawat, Durga Nath Subedi, Raman Shivakoti, Adip Pradhan, Ram Kailash Yadav, Shailendra Raj Nepal, Manohar Lamsal, Himal Raj Giri, Mohammad Siddique and Rajendra Bahadur Chand had taken the Level 2 Graduate Course held from September 30 to October 5, 2008 in Kathmandu.
Cricket Australia´s International Development Program Manager Roj Turner, umpires educator Denish Worns and instructor Darren Guzer had conducted the Level 2 course.
Speaking on the occasion, CAN President Binaya Raj Pandey said this was his one of the biggest achievements during his five-year tenure as president. “We will start the two-day format of cricket which was stopped for the last two years.”
During the function, CAN also distributed certificates to the coaches who have completed the Level 2 and Level 1 course.
U-19 basketball next month
White House Cup Fourth U-19 Boys´ and Girls´ National Basketball Championship, the first tournament on the Nepal Basketball Association (NeBA)´s new calendar, is scheduled to be held from June 11 to 18 at the National Sports Council covered hall in the capital.
President of NeBA Lama Tendi Sherpa informed the media on Sunday that the tournament will feature 32 and 24 teams in boys´ and girls´ categories, respectively.
Teams from Kathmandu Valley as well as from Sunsari, Pokhara, Chitwan, Rupandehi, Myagdi and Morang will participate in the tournament.
Title sponsor White House College will bear all the logistics expenses during the tournament.
Addressing a press conference on Sunday, NeBA Vice-president and Technical Director Narendra Thapa said the association would strictly regulate the tournament for limiting the participation to under-19 players only.
"Any player can participate in the tournament but they must be below the age bar which we have set." The tournament has a total prize money of Rs 100,000 for the winners, runners-up and most valuable players in both categories. The tournament will be played in league-cum-knockout format.
Golden Peak, Mahendra Bhawan win titles
Golden Peak and Mahendra Bhawan won the titles of the First Nawa Jeewan Cup Inter School Basketball tournaments on Sunday in boys and girls´ category respectively.
Golden Peak struggled past Green Land 32-31 in the boys final. Rakesh Shrestha scored 12 points for the winners.
Both teams were tied at 31-31 after the completion of fourth quarter but Golden Peak was lucky to score in the extra time.
Valley Public thrashed Gyanjyoti 35-17 to secure third position in the category. Wangde Sherpa of Golden Peak and Rabi Shrestha got most-valuable-player and highest scorer awards respectively.
Likewise, Mahendra Bhawan defeated TIA 19-12 in the girls´ final. Maya Rai alone scored 11 points for the winners. HSCA finished third. Shanti Shrestha and Upama Pandey of Mount Valley received the most-valuable-player and highest scorer awards respectively.
Tsering wins junior golf
Tenzing Tsering won the Gokarna Monthly Junior Golf Championship. Tsering left Suryansh Chaudhary behind on count back at Gokarna Forest Golf Resort.
Tenzing, son of Tashi Tsering who is Nepal Numero one Amateur Golfer, tied with Chaudhary with 20 stableford points and outplayed Chaudhary on the count back.
The tournament was played over nine holes on stableford format. Altogether 10 junior golfers took part in the tournament.
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