Mulpani Cricket Ground to be Renamed as ‘Jay Kumar Nath Shah Mulpani International Cricket Ground (JKNS Mulpani International Cricket Ground)’
The meeting held by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Friday has decided to rename the Mulpani Cricket Ground after the former president of the association, late Jay Kumar Nath Shah.
The top field of Mulpani, under the jurisdiction of CAN, will now be known as the Jay Kumar Nath Shah Mulpani International Cricket Ground. This decision was made in honor of the late Shah, who had served as the president of CAN in the past.
Recently, a recognized One-Day International match was also played at this ground a few months ago during the completion of the Asian Cricket Council Premier Cup in Nepal.
Similarly, the cricket ground located in Birgunj will be named as the ‘TB Shah Cricket Ground’ in honor of the former vice president of CAN, Tarini Vikram Shah. This decision was also announced by CAN.
About Jay Kumar Nath Shah:
The late Jay Kumar Nath Shah was the former president of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). He passed away at the age of 89 in the month of Bhadra in 2074 B.S. (2017 AD).
From 1966 to 2006, Shah had served as the president of CAN for 40 years and during his tenure, Nepal gained recognition as an Associate Nation of the International Cricket Council (ICC) from 1988 and an Associate Nation of the Asian Cricket Council from 1996. Shah played a significant role in elevating Nepal to the international level through his dedicated efforts.
In 2004, the ICC awarded him the Lifetime Achievement Award for his contributions. He was also honored with a lifetime membership by the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) in 2008.
During the year of his demise, CAN paid tribute to him at their general assembly. In the program, he expressed concerns about the current state of Nepali cricket, stating, “I am a cricketer and I speak the language of cricket. Now, I am 89 years old, and next year, I will nervously enter my nineties. Watch out, I might get out on 96, which has been the highest score of my life, or I might even complete a century!”
Before becoming the president of the Cricket Association, Shah was also a cricket player. He excelled in football, table tennis, and high jump as well. Shah had represented Nepal in cricket during his stay in Ranchi, India, where he also played cricket alongside other sports.
