Nepal cricket team to train in India

KATHMANDU, SEP 10 -

As part of the preparation for the ICC Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers the national cricket team will travel to India to play practice matches.

According to Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the national team will play around 10 matches with the teams associated with Delhi District Cricket Association (DDC).

The Delhi tour was organised by High Performance Programme Committee, a seven-member team formed under the chairmanship of CAN President Tanka Angbuhang, which will design programmes to prepare the cricketers for the two World Cup Qualifiers.

The Delhi tour is scheduled to run through October 20-30.

According to Angbuhang, CAN has set aside a budget of $ 250,000 under the High Performance Programme (HPP) out of which $ 175,000 is a grant from the ICC to prepare for the two qualifiers.

Likewise, ACC has granted $ 20,000 each for the Twenty20 and 50-over world cup qualifiers and National Sports Council has provided Rs 40,000.

The Twenty20 World Cup Qualifiers will run through November 15-30 in Dubai while the One Day World Cup Qualifier is slated for January 8-February 1 in New Zealand.

Prior to the Delhi tour, the cricketers will undergo bowling and batting camp. CAN has hired Australian Chris Harris, who is the  batting coach for the Victoria State, to coach the national team in a week-long camp which runs through October 4-10.

Similarly, 10 bowlers from the Sri Lankan A team will assist our batsmen to practice playing pace attack, from September 15-24.

“They bowl faster than our bowlers and we believe this will help our boys face the pace of Afghanistan and Ireland,’ manager of HPP said.

CAN also revealed that the HPP will arrange home and away practice matches with neighbouring countries like India, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.

Meanwhile, CAN has appointed Amrit Mathur and Amir Akhtar as the international and national counselor respectively.

Afghanistan are new saff champions

KATHMANDU, SEP 12 -

A goal in each half by Mustafa Azadozoy and Sanjadar Ahmadi sawAfghanistan avenging their defeat of the seventh edition as they won the SAFF Championship following their 2-0 victory against India at the Dashrath stadium on Wednesday evening.

They were awarded with

$ 50,000 along with the winner’s trophy for the feat.

With their maiden regional title, Afghanistan also ended their blues against India preventing the latter from winning third titles in a row—six in total—by registering their first ever victory from six encounters since 1951, including a draw.

“As long as Afghanistan is here, Indian domination in the South Asian region in football is over,” said elated Afghani coach Yousef Kargar.

“Our achievement has great meaning. After 30 years of destructive war, we have given an inexplicable reason for Afghani people to cherish about with our first title. Our happiness knows no bound.

“Our win is dedicated towards national unity, a common reason to celebrate for a country splintered in numerous ethnic divisions. We are grateful to Allah for such happiness.”

Surprisingly, Indian coach Win Kovermans benched skipper Sunil Chhetri and opted to go into the match with the unchanged line-up that have face Maldives in the semi-final.

Robin Singh started as the lone striker with Indian coach looking to cash in on with his physical and height superiority.

Azadozoy put Afghanistan front early in the ninth minute. Mustafa Hadid crossed for Balal Arezou and he sent Azadozoy through at the close range who slotted home with ease rounding off goalkeeper Subrata Paul.

India step up to pile pressure upon Afghanistan after lagging behind but rugged Afghani defense had all the answers to keep them at bay.

Against the run of play Afghanistan doubled their lead in the 62nd minute. Belal Arezou’s shot was blocked by Paul only to find it rolling on the path of Ahmadi who lobbed the ball over the Indian custodian.

“I am proud of how my boys played. We missed awful lot of chances. But football is all about scoring goals. I want to congratulate Afghanistan for their historic win,” said Indian Dutch coach Win Koverman.

Afghanistan , who had lost 4-0 to India in the previous edition, comprised of seven players from the last edition and were the only team guided by the home coach. They have remained undefeated since then.

Afghanistan are the top South Asian team in the FIFA rankings (139) and remain as the only team to qualify for the AFC Challenge Cup.

They have emerged as the powerhouse of the region since past two years with nine of their players trading their sweat in leagues abroad, including five in Europe.

Afghanistan are the fourth team to win the region’s biggest championship. India have won it five times—1997, 1999, 2005, 2009, 2011—while Bangladesh (2003) and Maldives (2008) won it in one occasion each.