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Nepal’s second match against Sri Lanka in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup was washed out at the Lauderhill Field in Florida, USA on Wednesday.

The match scheduled to start at 5:15 am Nepali time had to be abandoned without a ball bowled because of the incessant downpour, forcing the teams to share a point each before the toss was held.

This was the first time that Nepal and Sri Lanka were facing each other in the senior cricket team but the match had to be called off due to incessant rainfall.

Nepal are at fourth position in the group ‘D’ followed by Sri Lanka.

Nepal lost to their first match at the hands of  Netherlands by six wickets in the group stage while Sri Lanka suffered a defeat to South Africa by six wickets in the first match and Bangladesh by two wickets in the second match.

South Africa have already secured their berth in Super Eight from Group ‘D’.

Nepal will have to win the remaining two games to book a place in Super Eight.

Now, the Nepali team will go to the West Indies to play the remaining two matches of the group stage.

Nepal will play against South Africa on June 14 and Bangladesh on June 16 in St. Vincent, West Indies.

Dr Khurram Abbas is the director of India Study Center (ISC) at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI). Previously he served as Research Fellow (RF) at the Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI). Dr Abbas has extensively worked on the foreign and defense policies of the six GCC States with particular emphasis on Pakistan and Arab countries, China and Arab countries, and India and Arab countries. He regularly delivers lectures at International and National universities and presents papers at national and international conferences. He also contributes to academic journals and national/international dailies. Dr Abbas has five book chapters, twelve research articles, and more than a hundred newspaper articles to his credit. Kamal Dev Bhattarai of ApEx talked to him about the South Asian issues including the chances of revival of SAARC. 

How do you view the current situation of regionalism in South Asia?

In a world engulfed by traditional and non-traditional issues facing survival, security and welfare of humanity, no state can afford to effectively handle all the problems on its own. Environmental, socio-political, cultural and economic issues are of unprecedented volume and scale and require an interwoven, comprehensive collective approach. This can only be done through multilateral mechanisms particularly at regional level. Regionalism is, henceforth, not a choice but a compulsion in the contemporary world. This is even more crucial in the case of South Asia which, being the most populous yet least integrated region, has been coming across multiple challenges of horrendous nature like poverty, natural calamities and cultural conflicts at frequent intervals. Unfortunately, regional cooperation is missing in South Asia when the region needs it the most. Most of the smaller states are passionate about reviving the process. Yet such cooperation is only possible when the bigger states, especially India and Pakistan, agree to join hands for its revival.

Why is there stalemate in the SAARC process?

With an unmatched market size and population, with a plethora of emerging economies, and rich natural resources, South Asia could have plucked the fruits of regional integration more than any other region. Sensing the need for easing trade restrictions and adopting collective strategies in the face of multilateral challenges including climate change, human security and others, countries in the region agreed to form SAARC as a platform to strategize and multiply their efforts on multiple fronts. The forum was aware of the fact that bilateral issues between various states may pose a threat to the effectiveness of SAARC. This fear motivated the member states to categorically drop the idea of using the platform to vent grievances of bilateral nature and focus on multilateral issues instead. This worked for around three decades as the member states moved toward integrated approach and collective mechanisms of welfare, with a snail pace though. However, the very threat of exploiting the organization to serve self-interest under the garb of bilateral issues materialized when the new government in New Delhi attempted to thwart the ongoing cooperation on the pretext of the so-called cross-border terrorism. 

SAARC is in fact a platform that, apart from providing opportunities for regional integration, can ensure balance in the region and establish checks on aspiration of a state to become regional hegemon while exploiting smaller states. It is evident from the events of a decade that India has been ambitious to lay the part of the policing force of South Asia using its larger clout and external support. SAARC could prove to be an obstacle in its way, so India tactfully neutralized the forum while blaming Pakistan without solid evidence.

Is there any process of revival of SAARC?

Lately, there have been efforts at the diplomatic level between the member countries to revive the SAARC process. The SAARC Secretariat is in touch with all members and the secretary general of the organization has been paying official visits to the member states to gauge the environment in this respect. During his visits to Male, New Delhi and Islamabad, the SAARC secretary general exchanged notes with dignitaries on revitalizing the SAARC process. It is significant that all three countries that hosted the secretary general expressed their commitment to revive the desired role of the organization. However, revival of SAARC is a task easier said than done. But one can be optimistic about it keeping in view the positive gestures of member states. The first step toward reviving SAARC is nothing else but to convene its highest body, i.e. the SAARC Summit, which has been dormant for about a decade. The summit will open new avenues for revitalizing cooperation among member states and will ensure a tangible return of SAARC at the regional horizon.

Can BIMSTEC serve as an alternative to SAARC?

BIMSTEC cannot be a suitable alternative to SAARC due to several reasons. The first and foremost reason is that while SAARC geographically represents a particular region, BIMSTEC, in its essence, is not a regional arrangement. Its members consist of the countries that fall in two different rather distinct regions. They do not share their frontiers, values, problems and challenges. Also, distinct circumstances of each country do not allow them to join hands in adopting similar approaches to tackle their issues. Additionally, every member of BIMSTEC is already part of a regional organization: Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Nepal and Sri Lanka share the SAARC forum, while Thailand and Myanmar are part of ASEAN. South Asia at large will never be able to benefit from BIMSTEC the way it can utilize SAARC for a collective good. In addition to that, South Asian countries like Nepal, Sri Lanka and Bhutan will not be willing to accept BIMSTEC as an alternative to SAARC. This is evident from a recent debate which took place in Nepal’s House of Representatives that met to discuss the BIMSTEC Charter a few weeks back. At maximum, BIMSTEC can be classified as a loose arrangement of cooperation between two regions that is yet to bag any tangible achievement.

Should South Asian countries consider forming a new regional organization to replace SAARC?

SAARC is one of the oldest regional groupings that is about to complete four decades of its formation. Despite unfavorable circumstances, internal and external irritants, SAARC has contributed to the trust building among regional powers. Although its performance cannot be rated as satisfactory, the association has come a long way from where it started in 1985. SAARC regional centers in the member states, South Asian Free Trade Agreement (SAFTA), SAARC Development Fund (SDF), South Asian University (SAU), Disaster Management Initiatives (DMI), and SAARC Visa Exemption Scheme are some of the milestones which SAARC has achieved. Although everyone of these initiatives calls for further deliberation in order to maximize the output, the journey is in the making. South Asian countries were able to reach this destination through years of efforts, trust-building measures and mechanism formulations. Abandoning SAARC to turn toward establishing a new regional organization will be nothing more than reinventing the wheel. SAARC needs to be revived and revitalized. This will save a lot of time, energy, resources and will help South Asia to reintegrate in a better, time- and cost-effective manner.

Yashaswi Pragya Pratishthan has requested all authors and publishers to send books for Yashasvi Book Award. The books are called for by the foundation through a public press release.

Books should have to be published by the end of 2080 Chaitra, and should be in Nepali or English language written by Nepali authors, published from Nepal and outside Nepal. Three copies have been requested to be delivered to the office of Yashaswi Pragya Pratishthan office in Ghattekulo, Kathmandu, by Friday, 21 of Asadh 2081.

In this way, five best books of fiction, non-fiction, poetry, history/culture/research and translation/various genres will be awarded among the participating books.

The author of the awarded book will be honored at the 3rd Kathmandu Kalinga Literature Festival to held on Saturday 22nd of Bhadra 2081. Ranjana Niraula, director of Yashasvi Pragya Pratishthan, informed that awardees will receive a certificate of honor with Rs 20,000 cash.

The Commission for the Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) on Tuesday lodged a corruption case at the Special Court against Bagmati Municipality, Sarlahi Mayor Bharat Kumar Thapa, Deputy Mayor Lila Kumari Moktan, then Chief Administrative Officer Bimal Kumar Pokharel and three others.

The graft case was also filed against chief of the municipality's Planning Section Sagar Poudel, Accounts Officer Bishwaraj Pokharel and former Chief of Sarlahi District Coordination Committee Methur Chaudhary, according to CIAA Spokesperson Narahari Ghimire. 

The CIAA filed the case against them for their alleged involvement in embezzling public property, preparing fake reports and documents. The CIAA has sought Rs 303 million in fine from five of the accused, while a jail sentence has been sought against Methur Chaudhary.

They were accused of embezzling public property while selling stones, pebbles, sand and other river bed materials, which was extracted while constructing the Bagmati Fish Pond.

Police have arrested three persons for their alleged involvement in swindling around 300 foreign job aspirants of Rs 150 million with false promises of sending them to Cambodia, New Zealand and France among other countries.

The Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office made them public by organizing a press conference today.

The arrestees have been identified as Raj Kumar Bhatta (28) of Bharatpur-18, Chitwan, Pawan Panta (23) of Pokhara Metropolitan City-8, Kaski and Nabin BK (22) of Machhapuchhare Rural Municipality-8, Kaski.

Kathmandu Valley Crime Investigation Office spokesperson SP Rabindra Regmi said that they had published advertisements with a handsome salary and allowances with false promises of sending  Nepali job aspirants to Cambodia, New Zealand and France among others countries by using fake Ids of Rabin Ale Magar, Manoj Jung Thapa and Mahesh Thapa among others on Facebook, Messenger and WhatsApp.

After getting connected on social networking sites, the trio asked them to deposit the money in various bank accounts.

SP Regmi said that 15 persons had filed complaints against them.

Koshi Province Chief Minister Hikmat Kumar Karki has said the prolonged political instability has hampered the implementation of significant projects in the Koshi Province.

He made this remark while inaugurating a meeting of the Province Development Council today.

The Chief Minister said concerns to be raised during the meeting will be addressed through a new budget for the province. He proposed the idea of developing the Mahakumbha region which lies on the bank of the Koshi River to promote religious tourism.

Former Finance Minister Dr Yubaraj Khatiwada acknowledged the lack of coherence and coordination between the federal and the provincial governments in implementing development projects. He advised the Koshi government to do its best to explore development potentials in the areas of water resources, agriculture, and energy, setting an example. 

Council member and CPN (Maoist Center) Koshi Province Parliamentary Party leader Indra Bahadur Angbo said the effective enforcement of federalism is awaited and the provincial government is responsible for coming up with plans and projects capable of encouraging the young generation. 

Province Planning Commission's Vice Chair Dr Rajendra Adhikari was of the view of stabilizing the economic growth rate and enabling an atmosphere conducive to attracting foreign investment.         

Commission secretary Mimans Adhikari said submissions of 10,000 people were sought in the course of drafting the second Periodic Plan for the Province and the meeting aimed to further enrich the submission documents. 

The meeting was attended by province ministers, Commission office-bearers, and secretaries from various ministries, Council members, presidents of thematic committees in the Koshi Province Assembly, and mayors and chairs of the local levels.

Excessive heat has been forecast for the next three days in the central and western Tarai regions. 

The Meteorological Forecasting Division under the Department of Hydrology and Meteorology has said temperatures in some parts of the southern plains of Sudurpaschim and Lumbini Provinces have soared to 40 degrees Celsius or above in recent days.

In its special bulletin today, the Division forecasts the occurrence of a heat wave for the next three days beginning today. It has urged one and all to take precautions against the adverse weather conditions.

Fatigue, weakness, increased thrust, headache, muscle camp, dizziness, muscle pain, vomiting, and even unconsciousness are the consequences of the heat wave.

The Division has prescribed staying indoors in cool areas, wearing lightweight cotton clothing, avoiding direct sun exposure, wearing hats when outdoors, and consuming plenty of fruits, water, and fluids such as fresh juice to mitigate the risk of heat wave implications.

The Nepal Stock Exchange (NEPSE) gained 33.15 points to close at 2,115.24 points on Tuesday.

Similarly, the sensitive index surged by 4.18 points to close at 373. 23 points.

A total of 12,665,329-unit shares of 311 companies were traded for Rs 5. 55 billion.

Meanwhile, Barun Hydropower Co. Ltd. (BARUN), Green Ventures Limited (GVL), Kutheli Bukhari Small Hydropower Limited (KBSH) andBhagawati Hydropower Development Company Limited (BGWT) were the top gainers today, with their price surging by 10. 00 percent. Likewise, Samling Power Company Limited (SPC) the top loser as its price fell by 5.81 percent.

At the end of the day, total market capitalization stood at Rs 3. 35 trillion.