For the first time, Nepal has won a place in the Cricket T20 World Cup, due to be held in Bangladesh next year.
Penulis: Sunil Neupane
Editor:
Hundreds of cricket fans are waiting anxiously at the lobby of Nepal’s international airport.
Most of them are waving national flags.
They’re here to welcome the national cricket team who are bringing home a ticket to the Cricket World Cup in Bangladesh next year.
The fans chant “We will play in the World Cup...”
“This is the biggest moment of our life and biggest achievement of our sports history,” says Parash Khadka, the captain of the national cricket team.
“We worked so hard for this moment. Ever since we started playing cricket it was always dream to going to world cup. We want to improve our game further because now we want to compete best of the world.”
Nepal’s national team has never won any international trophy.
So most Nepalese cricket lovers support either India, Pakistan or Australia and follow them on television.
But over the last five years, Nepal has be going from strength to strength.
And today, thousands of people come to watch a cricket game in Kathmandu.
22-year-old Ritesh Bhurtel is now a proud fan of Nepal’s national team.
“Cricket is giving a message to the politicians…how to give happiness to the people.”
“Cricket is spreading the name of our country, so our leaders should learn from the team. Their achievement brings happiness to us.”
Nepal has experienced a great deal of political turmoil over the past five years...
But the regular success of their cricket team is now a source of happiness for the Nepalese.
“Politics is dividing everyone,” says 20-year-old Anurag Acharya, a student of engineering.
But cricket is a contrary, he adds.
“Cricket has become a source of national pride. Cricket has united everyone. It’s a matter of national pride now.”
The Nepalese government is throwing a party to welcome the winning national cricket team.
The team members are standing on the back of a truck, decorated with flowers and national flags.
Both sides of the road are crowded with people... waving... clapping and singing the national anthem.
Chief secretary of the government Lilamani Poudel promises full support for cricket in the future.
“We should not put more pressure on the team. We will create an environment for playing. We will have an indoor stadium for practice and I believe they will bring us more happiness.”
The Nepalese government and cricket association will award 11,000 US dollars to each team member for their achievement.
