Paras Khadka resigns as captain after ICC readmits Nepal as a full member

The International Cricket Council (ICC) on October 14, readmitted Nepal as the full member, despite on conditional basis. The Nepal Cricket Board was suspended in 2016 for breach of ICC regulations that prohibit government interference while also requiring ‘free and fair elections’. This came after the Central Working Committee’s election was conducted with an Independent Panel supervising it.

This was done under the ambit of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) constitution, which in turn ensured Nepal’s readmission. The cricket team has become one of the biggest success stories in the current cricket scene as under captain Paras Khadka, they recently won their first-ever ODI series over UAE and the captain became the first man to hit a T20I century for Nepal. Khadka’s T20I century was a first by a captain in a chase. He reached his hundred off 49 balls becoming the fourth-fastest T20I centurion by an Asian captain.

Captain Paras Khadka gives up captaincy a day after Nepal reinstated as a full member

However, in the news that may not please many of the Nepal cricket team fans and supporters, captain Paras Khadka has decided to give up the captaincy in order to give the new committee a new canvas to work on the progress of Nepal cricket. He has played 6 ODIs and recently scored a century against UAE and has a total of 235 runs and 9 wickets in the format. He has also featured in 27 T20Is and made 706 runs with one century.

“Great to know that the suspension of Nepal cricket has been lifted and would like to wish the new committee to work for the betterment of Nepal cricket,players and its stake holders. I have hereby decided to resign from my post as the captain of Nepal cricket team. Jai Nepal !!,” Khadka tweeted.

Great to know that the suspension of Nepal cricket has been lifted and would like to wish the new committee to work for the betterment of Nepal cricket,players and its stake holders.
I have hereby decided to resign from my post as the captain of Nepal cricket team.
Jai Nepal !! pic.twitter.com/YuRBZkR7bU

— Paras Khadka (@paras77) October 15, 2019

Apart from playing duties, the long-serving batsman has carried out a number of administrative responsibilities in the three years since the Cricket Association of Nepal was first deemed unfit for purpose. Despite Nepal missing out on a chance to play for qualification for next year’s T20 World Cup, there was no decline in Khadka’s popularity as a leader.

“The election of a 17-member Central Working Committee for the Cricket Association of Nepal was completed earlier this month and paved the way for the re-admittance of the CAN,” the ICC said in a statement. Meanwhile, Shashank Manohar was quoted as saying, “Given the progress made in Nepal, a transition plan will now be developed for the Cricket Association of Nepal to support full compliance with Associate Membership criteria, which will also involve controlled funding.”

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