Bowling against Afghanistan, 2007 ACC U-19 Elite Cup Final

What have been your toughest challenges?

Cricket-wise, it was in the recently concluded ACC Twenty20 where I was hit for 22 runs in an over against Qatar. That was very hard for me to digest because we lost that game. They needed 24 runs from two overs and I gave away 22 which basically handed the match to them. I was completely devastated after that game. But I bounced back in our final game of the tournament where Oman needed 6 runs from the last over and I was bowling. I took three wickets and that was the first time I think I had heard of anyone becoming the Man of the Match for his performance in just one over. That is how cricket is, the ups and downs come at such a pace that you just need to keep looking ahead and playing your own game.

And how do you cope with Twenty20 cricket?

The format emphasizes one’s skill and how quickly you adapt because there is no time to settle. It is all about doing the best you can, as fast as you can and that requires tremendous skill and focus. I feel watching Twenty20 is more enjoyable than playing it simply because when you play you have to be more than a 100% into the game.

Do you to try hitting every ball for a boundary?

I don’t think anyone can hit every ball for a four or a six but one can certainly try, right?

What is the domestic cricket scene in Nepal?

Domestic cricket really needs to be upgraded. The senior team has to be focused on. Our age-group levels have been performing well and it’s high time the senior team put up some good results. I mentioned earlier about having luck on your side when you play the games and when similar situations at the age-group level and senior level arise, it is the juniors who get on top of most situations whereas the seniors just don’t have that little luck to see them through.

	Roy Dias

What effect has Roy Dias had on you and the team?

Almost all of us are not afraid of our parents but are afraid of him. This is the impact he has on us and he’s like a Godfather to us in cricket. He understands the situations we’re in and knows every single player inside-out, our weaknesses and strengths, attitude and things like that.

What’s his training regime?

We do all the drills. There are a lot of fielding and batting drills and hand-eye co-ordination exercises. Being such a great batsman, he goes into the technical aspects of batting. When he first came in 2002, I heard that Roy Dias scrutinizes even your batting grip and so I practiced picking the bat up so that I maintain that ‘V’ shape which is so simple and yet so technically vital in maintaining that good grip.

So what if someone on the team plays with the bottom hand, does he let that happen?

No, there’s no real restraint. As long as you get the basics and are comfortable and can perform he’s OK. In Twenty20, it’s about scoring runs and so if you can bat its good, but in Test cricket you need to stay and play. Mr. Dias gives us the information and helps us understand it and use it to the best of each individual’s capability.

At the ACC U-19 Elite Cup, after Aakash Gupta hits three spanking boundaries off his first three deliveries and then gets out playing an over-ambitious shot; on returning to the dressing room he bowed to Roy Dias. Was this customary or just the fear of Roy Dias?

Well, it’s not about being scared. It was a bad shot that got him dismissed and after hitting three well-placed boundaries, it makes it worse when you get out to a shot like that. The margin for error is very minute and you’re either a hero or a zero, which Aakash proved to be both in a short span. Maybe he was a little scared. It’s something like being scolded by one’s parents when you fail your exam and it’s the same with our Coach. He’s always going to be there when you make that mistake to correct you to ensure you minimize the errors.

	2005 ACC U-19 Cup victory

Now that you’ve got so far, captain of the U-19’s; do you see yourself being the national captain soon?

I don’t really aim at that target. I’m just happy enough representing the nation and bringing glory to it whichever way I can. As long as I can play and perform, that will give me more pleasure. Of course being a captain is a huge honour for anyone to lead a country but as a player right now, I am only looking to contribute to the best of my ability and potential.

Do you find the U-19 captaincy challenging or enjoyable?

It is very enjoyable. I think people judge captains too excessively. If a team is strong, then the captain has his job much easier. Clever captaincy comes in when the captain reads the game and the situation and brings on a certain bowler or changes the field setting but the players too need to take a certain amount of responsibility.

Does a personal performance bring more satisfaction than a team performance?

Like I said, as long as I can contribute to the team I am happy. I’m not looking for centuries in every game but I am looking to win every game and that is what is more important.

Do you think there’s a lot more talent outside Kathmandu waiting to be discovered?

Of course. There are always hidden treasures. The bowler Dhirendra Chand was one of them. He never went through the age-group levels but went straight to the senior squad. There have been quite a few players from Biratnagar and Nepalgunj as well. If we strengthen our domestic structure we can definitely source out this kind of talent instead of wasting it.

Nepal on one of their perennial victory laps, 2007 ACC U-19 Elite Cup

At the age-group levels, Nepal are consistent champions but at the senior level they struggle. Is there only a certain limit to how far Nepal can go?

No, definitely not. Match practice is very important. Our senior players should constantly be involved in the game but our domestic cricket hardly shows any activity throughout the year. Getting as many quality matches as possible under our belts is the only way we can better ourselves. We do have the technique and the skills but we can’t really put it out 100% on the field. Mr. Dias has helped us to a large extent and I’m sure we can only grow from strength to strength.

With a lot of improving teams like Singapore, Hong Kong and Afghanistan, how will Nepal deal with this stronger competition?

We definitely have the talent. We may need a little more exposure but we can get to the level of these countries quickly enough. Once we get to the level, it is going to be all about acclimatizing ourselves. We need the match practice. The senior team just plays about ten matches in Nepal and so the more we play by inviting teams over or by traveling to other places, the better we’re going to get as a team.

For that we need to work way above our limits to match the quality of these players. If we can play against teams that are at that high a level constantly, we will raise the standards of our own game. We may not win all the matches but we certainly improve a lot. That’s all I can say about this.

Filed February 14 2008