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For the first time in its history, Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) organized a franchise cricket league. But the CAN initiative had a scandalous start, thanks to an alleged match-fixing scandal. What’s more, teams complained that they were not paid and that those responsible for paying them had gone out of contact after the match.  In the wake of these controversies, the Ministry of Home Affairs has ordered an inquiry and the Central Investigation Bureau has already initiated a probe.  Against this backdrop, Chumbi Lama, a CAN member, spoke to AP1 TV, sister broadcaster of The Annapurna Express. Excerpts:  Why did the Nepal T20 league go to an Indian company? In 2020, CAN signed a formal agreement with India’s Seven3Sports, which gave the latter strategic, commercial and advisory rights for almost 10 years. I consider it a black day for the Nepali sports fraternity. I knew from the start that this deal will create misunderstanding in the future with regard to rights given to the company and lack of transparency surrounding international events. So, I had suggested CAN to act as per Nepal’s relevant laws. No one heeded those suggestions at that time.   Who was responsible for the agreement and what roles did you and others have to disagree upon it? The work ethics of Seven3Sports and CAN didn’t match. I and other board members warned the committee to strike a deal with the company, to no avail. CAN signed the deal with Seven3Sports in haste before its annual general meeting. Basically, five members of CAN’s executive board, including chair, vice chair and secretary, worked out these processes.  Can you elaborate on the (Jan 3) dispute in the field? The organizers, ie Seven3Sports, went out of contact and they didn’t provide salary to match officials and players. So, the players and the officials delayed the game in protest.  How do you feel about this incident? Youths like us have joined this field to contribute to Nepali sports, especially cricket. We must put an end to incidents like these. This particular incident has made me sad. Cricket brings families together, forges brotherhood all over the world. Incidents like this must not happen again. My best wishes for the progress of CAN. What’s the mental state of players after the incident? Haven’t talked to the players, but I know everyone is frustrated. So, a solution must be worked out as soon as possible. CAN must investigate the incident properly and report the findings to the authorities concerned.  Police and CIB are also probing the case, so let’s hope for the best. Nepali cricket has a very bright future but we must work hard for the same.  

The draft of the Common Minimum Program of the government has been prepared. A meeting of the task force held on Friday has decided to table the draft in the meeting of the senior leaders to be held on Saturday, Rastriya Swatantra Party spokesperson Mukul Dhakal said. Emerging from the meeting of the task force held in Singhadurbar today, he said, “The task force has prepared the draft. Basically, issues of development are included in the Common Minimum Program. Likewise, the draft has given priority to good governance.” The Common Minimum Program includes programs such as corruption control, health education, service delivery and sanitation among others. Good governance, protection of nationality, improvement of the economy, prosperity and completion of the peace process are included in the priority program of the government. The task force was formed under the headship of Deputy Prime Minister and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel. Barshaman Pun of the CPN (Maoist Center), Mukul Dhakal of the Rastriya Swatantra Party, Dhawal Shumsher Rana of the Rastriya Prajatantra Party and Rakan Chemjong are the members of the task force.    

Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel and US Ambassador to Nepal Dean R Thompson held a meeting on Friday. During the meeting held at Singhadurbar, the duo discussed contemporary political issues. It has been learnt that Minister Poudel and Ambassador Thompson also talked about the Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) project. Saying that Nepal and the US have a strong relationship, Ambassador Thompson expressed his belief that the relation will be strengthened further in the coming days.

The price of gold has dropped by Rs 800 per tola in the domestic market on Friday. According to the Federation of Nepal Gold and Silver Dealers’ Association, the yellow bullion is being traded at Rs 102, 300 per tola today. It was traded at Rs 103, 100 per tola on Thursday. Meanwhile, tejabi gold is being traded at Rs 101, 800 per tola today. Similarly, the silver is being traded at Rs 1, 365 per tola.

The government made public the decisions of the Cabinet meeting held on Thursday. Government spokesperson and Finance Minister Bishnu Poudel made public the decisions on Friday. He said that the Cabinet meeting has given approval to carry out the Organization and Management Survey to establish a customs office at Pokhara International Airport on the proposal of the Ministry of Finance. Similarly, the government has decided to hold the National Assembly by-election on February 8. The government has also decided to provide Rs 1 million each to the family of Sanjeeb AD and Chetan AD who died during the elections to the House of Representatives and Province Assembly. Likewise, the meeting has decided to provide financial support to bring the body of Nirakar Pandey, who died in a fire in Cambodia, to Nepal. On top of that, the government has decided to appoint Toyama Raya as Finance Secretary and Ram Prasad Ghimire as Revenue Secretary.  

Six persons died and 18 others were injured when a bus met with an accident at Khursani in Rainadevi Chahara Rural Municipality-8 of Palpa on Thursday. Palpa police confirmed that six persons died on the spot when the bus (Ga 1 Kha 4977) towards Khursani, Satyadevi, Palpa from Saljhandi, Rupandehi fell some 100 meters down the road at around 10 pm yesterday. Birendra Thapa, Information Officer at the District Police Office, Palpa, Guna Kumari Gaha (45), Dan Kumari Khatri (21), Khem Kumari Rana (54), Nirmala Ghimire (33), Suruma Ghimire (11), and Bima Pandey (11) died in the incident. Police said that the injured are undergoing treatment at the Lumbini Provincial Hospital in Butwal and Edmond City Hospital in Jitgadhi.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 18. 09 points to close at 2,143. 93 points on Thursday. Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 2. 51 point to close at 411. 23 points A total of 12,581,982 unit shares of 259 companies were traded for Rs 5. 04 billion. Meanwhile, Chandragiri Hills Limited, Buddha Bhumi Nepal Hydropower Company Limited, Dhaulagiri Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited, Khaptad Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited and Shrijanshil Laghubitta Bittiya Sanstha Limited were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Similarly, Citizens Mutual Fund was the top loser as its price fell by 3. 03 percent. At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 10 trillion.

The government has decided to appoint Toyam Raya as the secretary of the Ministry of Finance. A Cabinet meeting held on Thursday decided to appoint Raya, Secretary at the Ministry of Industry and Commerce, as the secretary of the Ministry of Finance. Similarly, the meeting has also decided to appoint Ram Prasad Ghimire as the revenue secretary. Earlier, he was in the Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA).