KATHMANDU, JUL 09 - National cricket team skipper Paras Khadka has taken a giant leap in world cricket claiming 64th position in the recently published ICC World Twenty20 rankings.
Khadka, who starred in the recently concluded Twenty20 International bilateral series against the Netherlands, left teammate Sharad Vesawkar way behind in the rankings. Vesawkar, who had sneaked into the top 100 at 76th spot of the rankings after an impressive display in the 2014 World Twenty20, has slipped five spots down.
Khadka had made 137 runs from four matches in the bilateral series in the Netherlands which Nepal lost 3-1. The Nepali skipper had also brought his maiden T20 international half century slamming 54 in the final game that Nepal won by three wickets. Vesawkar was the first Nepali player to get into the ICC rankings but since Nepal needed to complete the minimum requirement of eight matches to get inside the list, his achievement was not fully recognised.
It was from the series against Netherlands that Nepal broke into the ICC rankings for the first time on Sunday. Nepal are currently 15th in the T20 rankings. Gyanendra Malla also found his place inside the top 100 at 86th spot. Khadka has 338 rating points, Vesawkar has 250 and Malla has 233 points.
Left arm spinner Basanta Regmi also became the first Nepali bowler to get inside the top 100 of the ICC rankings. Regmi, who had picked up five wickets in the series against the Dutch, has 342 rating points and stays at the 83rd spot.
Qualifiers begins today
Nepal will be one of the 14 Associate teams fancying a chance to make it to the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 when the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers begins in Ireland and Scotland on Thursday. Nepal, who begin their campaign with the match against the USA on Friday, are pitted in Group ‘A’ that also features defending champions Ireland, Hong Kong, Papua New Guinea, Namibia and Jersey.
Group ‘B’ consists of Afghanistan, Netherlands, Scotland, UAE, Canada, Kenya and Oman. While the group winners will book their tickets to the World Twenty20 and enter the semi-finals, the second, third and fourth-placed teams will battle for the remaining four spots through the playoffs. (PR)
Baskota, Sah off to UK
Nepal’s former U-19 skipper Prithu Baskota and emerging cricketer Hari Shankar Sah on Wednesday left for England to play for Bristol Bangladeshi Cricket Club in a three-month tour. The duo will train with the club and compete in the local tournaments before returning on September 1. According to Uttam Karmacharya, CAN Acting General Secretary, the club had invited the two players and will manage for their accommodation there. CAN is looking after the airfare and other expenses for the two cricketers. (PR)
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