In a recent interview with CricBuzz, Monty Desai, the head coach of Nepal’s cricket team, has called for Nepal’s inclusion in India’s domestic cricket tournaments, specifically the prestigious Ranji Trophy. Desai’s appeal to the International Cricket Council (ICC) and the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) comes after Nepal’s impressive performance in the ICC World Cup League 2.
Desai argued that neighboring countries like Scotland and Ireland are allowed to play in England, and hence, Nepal should also be given a similar opportunity. He believes that this move could potentially make Nepal a Test-playing nation within four years. “If you look around, all the neighboring countries, including Afghanistan, have Test recognition. In fact, Nepal and Afghanistan started playing together,” he said.
The Ranji Trophy is India’s biggest domestic cricket tournament, with 38 teams competing. It is also considered the most popular domestic first-class tournament in world cricket. Players who participate in the Ranji Trophy have the chance to earn a one-day match fee of 60,000 baht. Additionally, based on their performance in this tournament, players can be called up to the Indian Test team.
Desai believes that Nepal’s inclusion in the Ranji Trophy could potentially boost the team’s chances of improving their performance and gaining international recognition. Under Desai’s guidance, Nepal has won 11 out of 12 matches and secured a place in the top three in the ICC World Cup League 2. The team has also qualified for the World Cup Qualifiers which will take place in Zimbabwe .
Apart from the Ranji Trophy, India also has the Syed Mushtaq Ali trophy as the T20 national tournament and the Vijay Hazare trophy as the ODI national tournament. The performance of players in these tournaments helps them earn a place in the Indian Premier League (IPL).
The upcoming ACC Premier Cup will be held at Nepal’s home ground TU and Mulpani from the third week of April. If Nepal wins the title, they will have the opportunity to play against India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup. Additionally, Nepal will participate in the World Cup qualifiers in Zimbabwe in June and July, with a chance to secure a place in the ODI World Cup to be held in India in October and November.
Desai’s appeal to the ICC and BCCI is a significant step towards increasing Nepal’s exposure to high-level cricket and potentially elevating the team’s performance to the next level.
