Preliminary nepealease cricket team for Games announced-17th Asian Games2014 ,September 19 to October 4 in Incheon, South Korea

KATHMANDU, JUL 23 - As uncertainty hangs around Pubudu Dassanayake’s future in Nepal, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Wednesday announced a 19-member preliminary squad for the 17th Asian Games slated for September 19 to October 4 in Incheon, South Korea, with Arun Aryal named as the men’s team coach.

CAN had sent the list for both men’s and women’s teams after it decided not to extend Dassanayake’s contract that expired on June 30. The government then stepped in to hand Dassanayake a one-year extension but by that time the Sri Lankan-born Canadian was already out of the list. CAN acting general secretary Uttam Karma-charya said Dassanayake could be with the team in Korea but Aryal will remain the coach.

“Since we sent information of all players and coaches for accreditation process before the government’s move to retain Dassanayake, we cannot make any changes now. But if the government brings him (Dassanayake) before the Games, he can join the team in Korea but without any say in the team,” said Karmacharya adding CAN should be informed about his arrival first.

“Till now the government has not informed us anything about Dassanayake’s contract extension. We have only heard from the media reports that his contract has been extended. If the government wishes to send him to Korea then it should follow the standard procedure of going through us (CAN),” he added.    

Aryal, who had previously looked after the national team as well as the junior sides, will serve as the head coach of the senior squad after nine years. Aryal had looked after the national team during the 2005 three-day tournament against Singapore in Singapore.

The men’s preliminary squad comprises of Paras Khadka, Gyanendra Malla, Subash Khakurel, Sharad Vesawkar, Shakti Gauchan, Sagar Pun, Binod Bhandari, Som Pal Kami, Mehboob Alam, Naresh Budhayer, Basanta Regmi, Rahul Kumar BK, Pradeep Airee, Jitendra Mukhiya, Bhuwan Karki, Manjeet Shrestha, Raj Kumar Pradhan, Puspa Thapa and Ram Naresh Giri. Srinivas Rana is the team manager.

The women’s preliminary 19 include Rubina Chhetri, Mamta Thapa, Sarita Magar, Sita Rana Magar, Karuna Bhandari, Sobha Ale, Rekha Rawal, Kabita Gautam, Kajal Shrestha, Roshani Bohora, Sonu Khadka, Anjali Chand, Mamta Chaudhary, Jyoti Pandey, Trishna Singh, Saraswoti Chaudhary, Nary Thapa Indu Verma and Binu Budha Magar. Navin Kumar Singh is the coach and Sanjay Raj Singh the team manager.  

After Test-playing giants India and Pakistan decided not to send any team for the Asian Games men’s cricket, the event will be participated in by Sri Lanka, defending champions Bangladesh, Afghanistan, Hong Kong, China, Kuwait, Malaysia and Maldives.

The women’s teams include Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Thailand, Japan, Malaysia, Korea, Hong Kong and China.