International Cricket Council(ICC) issued a press release today after ICC Head Global Development, William Glenwright’s Nepal’s visit and series of meeting with Advisory Committee hinting possibility of Nepal readmission to ICC as associate member during ICC’s annual board meeting in June.
“A series of positive meetings of the Nepal Advisory Group concluded this weekend in Kathmandu as part of the process to re-admit the Cricket Association of Nepal as a member of the International Cricket Council”, reads the press release
“At the meeting, the advisory group agreed on a Terms of Reference for the work and a community consultation process by which members of the Nepalese cricket community will give inputs for the revised Constitution.”
The six member advisory committee was formed in October composed of business tycoon Binod Chaudary and former president of CAN Binay Raj Pandey as coordinators, former player and president of Cricket Players Association of Nepal, Pawan Agarwal as general secretary, Rohit Dahal as spokesperson, and former acting president of CAN, Deepak Koirala and joint secretary of youth and sports ministry Chudamani Poudel as members.
It was widely reported yesterday the president of then suspended elected body of CAN Chatur Bahadur Chand and general secretary Ashok nath Pyakurel had agreed on principal that they would the advisory committee after a meeting with Glenwright on Saturday
According to the press release the ICC delegation will return during the WCLC fixture against Kenya in Marc and will decide on timetable of adoption of new constitution and subsequent elections. Following that, proposal for Nepal’s readmission to ICC will be tabled at ICC Annual General Meeting in June.
What’s worth noting is that ICC has focused on readmitting Nepal and not lifting CAN’s suspension, meaning a new cricketing authority will be set up in Nepal which will receive ICC’s affiliation.
ICC had suspended CAN in April of 2016 citing government interference in elected body. Nepal’s national cricket team was allowed to participate in World Cricket League Championship under guidance and financial help of ICC despite CAN’s suspension.
