Paras Khadka, former captain of the Nepali national cricket team and current secretary of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), presented Nepal’s cricket journey and future ambitions at the International Cricket Council (ICC) Annual Conference held in Singapore. In his address, Khadka touched on the success of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), structural reforms, promotion of women’s cricket, and Nepal’s aspiration to attain Test nation status. Sharing his remarks on social media as well, he asserted that Nepal is now ready for the global stage.
Reflecting on the journey of Nepal cricket, Khadka said, “I led the national team for nearly two decades, taking it from Division 5 to achieving ODI status. Where we are now is incredible—but we must move ahead with a plan.” Describing last year’s NPL as a transformative moment, Khadka noted that the tournament gained international attention. “The NPL wasn’t confined to Nepal alone. Eight local franchise owners ran teams, attracting star players like Shikhar Dhawan and Jimmy Neesham. Cricket legends like Brian Lara visited, and Neesham won his first franchise title right here in Nepal.”
Highlighting the league’s symbolic gesture, Khadka said, “We placed a stone from Mt Everest on the NPL trophy to send a message to the world—that climate change is a grave issue, and Nepal lies at its heart. Even cricket can carry that message.”
Khadka also spoke about Nepal’s recent achievements on the global stage: “We’ve played in two World Cups, participated in the Asia Cup, and narrowly lost to South Africa by just one run in 2024. More than 8,000 Nepali fans were in the stadium in Dallas—that showed our strength.”
On women’s cricket, Khadka stressed its importance in Nepal’s pursuit of full ICC membership. “We’ve made women’s cricket a priority. For the first time, we’ve reached the global qualifiers. There’s no turning back now.”
Regarding government support, he added, “The national sports budget has doubled for the first time. A new international-standard stadium with floodlights is under construction. We’ve introduced the red-ball format in domestic cricket. While franchise cricket brings in revenue, we must also focus on Test cricket.”
Speaking about long-term goals, Khadka concluded, “We have the fans, government support, and backing from the ICC. We’re about to play our first-ever series against the West Indies. Becoming a Test nation is not just a dream—it’s our commitment.”
