Young gunners ready to fire…

“I am dropping my board exam just to play and my parents don’t have any problem with that," Bastola says, “Exams come every year but these tournaments don't. I can pass the exam next year.” 

If you visit the one-and-only international cricket ground of the nation –Tribhuwan University Cricket Ground - recently, you might see a bunch of boys just roaming around the ground. Your quick glance may not be enough to identify them or recognize the multicolored jerseys – green, blue and red- the boys are wearing, but on a closer look, one will be surprised to know that they all are the national players. These young boys are representing Nepal in U-16 ACC Elite Cup to be held in Malaysia from May 4 to May 13.Since the last ten days, these young boys are participating in the final training camp, under the scorching sun. They are the final 14 juvenile lads from different parts of the country. These feeble-looking, babyish lads may raise a few eyebrows at a first glance and could raise queries as: Can these kids send the ball out of the boundary?  Are they capable to play international cricket?

But don’t give in to their physical attributes; take your time to chat with them. You will get all your queries resolved. Their soft but solid, short but swift replies depict their dedication and motivation to cricket.

Sanjeev Pandey, who is the team manager of U-16 have the same judgment. "Don’t judge them for their height and size. See how they perform," Pandey says. And once they start playing in the cricket ground, one is sure to drop their jaws. These fabulous fourteen young cricketers are already shouldering the burden of winning the title, as Nepal is the runner up side of the inaugural edition of the tournament held in 2010.

But, the journey to the ‘ultimate 14’ for these boys hailing from small towns was not easy, after all they are still in their schools. Shashi Bhushan Mishra 13, is the youngest among his teammates. For Mishra, it was tough to convince his parents; though later they were very happy over his selection in the national team. “We were very delighted that I was called in the national squad but I had to bowl many googlies to get the permission from my parents,” says Mishra, leg spinner, who hails from Jaleshwor. He thanks his relatives and neighbors who persuaded his parents. “My neighbors, relatives and my teachers talked my parents into this and so I'm here,” recalls Mishra, whom the coach asserts as one of the dependable players in the team.

A unified squad  

These boys have become friends in this short period and some of them have been very close buddies. Some are also given nicknames by their friends. Heman Rai, from Ilam is nicknamed ‘chyangba’. The intimacy between these lads and their team spirit is laudable. Team manager Pandey, also thinks that the job has been less complicated as they love each other’s company. “As young boys from different society and culture, they could have created lot of problems for me, but they are self-disciplined and living in harmony, which is exemplary for people like us,” shares Pandey.

Moreover, Coach Manjural Alam Khan justifies their cricketing basics. He says that these boys are talented and have all the qualities a cricketer needs. “Though, they are very young but they don’t lack the passion for the game and that is their weapon. They might be physically weak, but they are mentally boosted,” opines Coach. These players have been selected from different regions but they have emerged like a team. “They were already talented when they came into this camp, we just polished their talent and helped them develop a positive attitude,” adds Coach, “They are performing well in the net and they are strong contender for the title.”

School Bunkers

The team is full of schoolboys as they all are below 16. Many of them like Sashi Bhushan Mishra, Heman Rai, Nurdhoj Sen and others appeared in their board exam but could not attend their new session. Currently a ninth grader, Mishra gave much priority to cricket than his studies thinking that playing in Malaysia is a golden opportunity for his lifetime.  Contrary to Mishra, Rupesh Bastola from Bhairahawa has taken on step ahead and is intentionally quitting his upcoming 11^th grade board exam. “I am dropping my board exam just to play and my parents don’t have any problem with that," Bastola says, “Exams come every year but these tournaments don't. I can pass the exam next year.”

Nurdhoj Sen

Sachin Tendulkar himself in the team                          

As you go through players, you will find a short and dedicated guy in the team. Coincidentally, he is the preferred opening batsman of the team and one of the most reliable one and he is Sachin Tendulkar. Wait, he is Nurdhoj Sen who is nicknamed Sachin by his friends. When asked to introduce himself, 13-year old Sen turns around and shows his jersey number 10. And, what can be much exciting to Sen - who gripped the bat just a year ago - than being called in the national team and is compared to the legendary Tendulkar?

Team in good hands

Deependra Chand

A captain able to lead from the front and coach accustomed to playing conditions, strategy making and posing experience are the men behind the curtains in any team’s show. Thus, the present team is in good hands. Captain Deependra Chand is the one the team can heavily rely upon. Besides, Chand’s prior experience in the first edition of the same tournament should definitely help the team, to a great extent. According to manager Pandey, Chand is a great leader as he manages mutual understanding and believes in teamwork and treats them fairly. Talking about Coach Khan, he has wider experience in serving Nepali cricket. Coach Khan has been the assistant coach to Roy Dias, former Nepali cricket team coach. Khan had assisted Dias on two successful tournaments. Previously during U-15 ACC Elite Cup 2005, held in the UAE, where Nepal won the trophy and later followed by ACC U-17 Elite Cup 2009, in the home ground, guiding Nepal to victory.

Players’ preparation, dedication and their strong determination are the basics for winning any tournaments and these fabulous 14 cricketers are ingrained with such inputs. Nepal’s success in the forthcoming U-16 ACC Elite Cup seems inevitable. Best of luck!