20 August 2006

NEPAL MAUL MYANMAR

Myanmar v Nepal at Club Aman

NEPAL WON BY TEN WICKETS

Mismatches cannot come bigger than this as Nepal won by ten wickets chasing 10 runs and highlight twofold the benefits of the ACC tournament system and its revision in time for the next Trophy.

Ten years ago when so many countries were much of a muchness below a leading few, countries like Myanmar and Nepal could have met on the field and enjoyed a more even contest. Thanks to the ACC of which Nepal are long-term members, Nepal's cricket has developed tremendously since the first ACC Trophy in 1996. No way should these two countries play each other until Myanmar are ready. And they will not. The ACC Trophy as with other ACC age-group competitions will have Champions and Challenger divisions, where the top eight and bottom eight countries by ranking play amongst themselves with promotion and relegation between the two divisions.

Myanmar in their first tournament, the ICC's newest Affiliate Member against an twenty-year old ICC Associate member. Nepal have had the benefit of years of development funding, coaching programs and cricket has embedded itself in the national consciousness. Cricket is now the biggest sport in Nepal, (transplanting football) and the cricketers are national heroes.

The Myanmar Cricket Federation operate under the banner: 'Playing Cricket is to Achieve Subtle Supremacy'. They know that subtletly and supremacy are not acquired overnight but take years of dedicated study. They have the will. The ACC will show them the way.

GROUP C
Myanmar v Nepal at Club Aman
Toss: Nepal
NEPAL WON BY TEN WICKETS
Myanmar: 10 all out in 12.1 overs
(M.Alam 7-3; B.K.Das 3-4)
Nepal: 11 for 0 in 0.2 overs
Man of the Match: Mahaboob Alam (Nepal)