Nepalese Cricketers get first salary in history

Victorious Nepali team in ACC T20 Eilte Cup File: Photo

 

Nepali veteran cricketer and former national team captain Binod Das had a distinctive experience on Thursday afternoon, what he called a sweet and fresh feeling. It was the occasion; Das received his first salary after playing for nation for more than a decade. Das and his other teammates had the same feeling when they pocketed their very first salary amidst a program held in the capital on Thursday.  

“It’s never too late if it’s good starting,” said Das after being paid. “It’s the first time that I am paid for playing for country in salary during my a decade long career,” added Das, who also remembered that he used to get Rs. 25 for playing a match in his earlier days. National team skipper Paras Khadka also appreciated CAN’s initiation and urged CAN to continue such efforts in future. “I am really happy and want to thank CAN on behalf my whole team,” said Khadka. 

The cricket governing body of nation Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) handed over national team cricketers their remuneration. Players received their payment in cheques through the hands of National Sports Council member secretary Yubaraj Lama.  CAN implemented its decision to pay cricketers Rs. 5,000 per month, made on 16^th November 2011.

In all, 18 players who had participated in ACC T20 Cup held in Nepal and ICC World T20 Qualifiers in the UAE bagged the payment. Further, those players were paid based on their participation in the last two tournaments Nepal had taken part.  Players participating in both ACC T20 Cup and ICC World T20 Qualifiers were paid their six months and those cricketers played in any of the two tournaments were given three months payment.    
Players playing in both sides were –skipper Paras Khadka, vice-captain Gyanendra Malla, Prithu Banskota, Mehboob Alam, Pradeep Airee, Sharad Veshwakar, Basant Regmi, Sanjam Regmi, Amrit Bhattarai and Anil Mandal, while Binod Bhandari, Rahul BK, Subash Khakurel, and Binod Das had their ACC T20 appearances. Shakti Gauchan, Pares Lohani, Chandra Saud, and Krishna Karki had shared the dressing room with others during the ICC World T20 Qualifiers in the UAE.
CAN president Tanka Aangbuhang expressed his satisfaction over CAN’s success to execute its long-deferred plan. “We are happy that we are paying our players finally that was decided many months ago,” said president, “It’s new initiative and a new beginning, though it took a long time.”  Aangbuhang also clarified that due to some technical complexities and budgeting problems.

On the same occasion, Aangbuhang declared ´Cricketers Welfare Fund´ of Rs 1 million. CAN also made public a surprise package for team members participated in ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifier 2011 held in Ireland. CAN will honor each team member to play in the ICC U-19 World Cup in Australia later this year with Rs 10,000. Similarly, CAN also feted team members of the ICC World T20 Qualifiers 2012 with Rs 10,000 cash purse for their outstanding success in the tournament. Nepal had finished with seventh place in the tournament.

CAN general secretary Ashok Nath Pyakuryal said that CAN will continue the contracts with the players and will try best to increase the payment amounts in future.  “We’ll set up some scientific criteria for paying players in future based on their performances, discipline, and commitments. However, we’ll go with same players with same contracts for next months.” According to Pyakurel, CAN will renew the same contracts with same players in the new year 2069.

Meanwhile, NSC member secretary Lama praised CAN’s initiative and opined that cricketers deserve the payments as they have to go through intense pressure arising from peoples’ expectation. “Nepalese Cricketers have to play under pressure as Nepalese common people expect much from them. They have to live up to the expectation every time,” said Lama who labeled cricket as one of the top priority sport of Nepal. Lama also stressed on government’s failure to contribute in development of cricket. “There is a lot to do in cricket. NSC will be always there to support cricket,” added Lama, who also sensed the rift between CAN and NSC in past day.

CAN vice-president TB Shah shared that Nepal have distinguished place in Asian Cricket Council map and also called Nepali team ‘Dark Horse’. “I am very proud of our boys. They are ‘Dark Horse’ and no team will dare to undermine Nepal in future,” Shah spent his words’ of motivation to players present at the program.