Nepal has always put up a sweeping performance on the home turf and cricket in the country is likely to take step forward through this tournament. [break]
“It´s very, very important tournament for Nepal cricket,” said coach Roy Dias, who termed the event the most important of all he participated as a coach.
Captain Paras Khadka, who will be leading the national team for the first time in the 50-over event after taking over from Binod Das for the ACC Twenty20 Cup last year, also echoed similar feelings.
“If we fail in this tournament, our World Cup dream would end,” Paras said.
Nepal´s target would be to reach the final. “It´s a qualification event, so we first should ensure that we qualify,” Paras added. “The ultimate aim, however, is to win the title.”
In 2008, Nepal competed in the Div 5 in Jersey where it remained a step behind from qualification to Div 4 after losing to Afghanistan in the semifinals. Nepal beat USA, who was beaten by Jersey in another semifinal, to finish at the third-position.
Dias said he and his players would take matches one-by-one and with equal importance.
For Dias, Nepal is a balanced side with all players capable of batting and a good combination of pace and spin bowling. “We have best pace bowlers available and good spinners,” Dias said. “Fielding has always been good.”
Nepal will be expecting Paras to deliver as an all-rounder and a captain. “He will be a key person -- not only as a player but also as a captain,” Dias said while also naming Mehboob Alam and Dipendra Chaudhary.
“Mehboob has worked hard and has become the most popular cricketer,” Dias said. “Dipendra has matured as a cricketer.”
In Jersey, Mehboob became the first player from Associate and Affiliate nations of ICC to take all wickets of an innings against Mozambique. The fiery left-hander is capable of playing quick innings.
The pair of Mehboob and Dipendra will open the innings. “I have hoped a lot from the openers,” Paras added. “If openers do well, we are always on the top. Besides, I also hope that every member of the team will deliver the best.”
Nepal has prepared well for the tournament. The players have been training for one-and-half months; some of the members also competed in the South Asian Games Twenty20. “Preparation has been very good,” Dias said.
Dias named USA and Jersey as toughest opponents. “Jersey played in Div 4 while USA just came from the Twenty20 World Cup qualifiers,” he said.
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