YOUTH ASIA CUP, 2016

Binod Das and Nepal cricket's long unfulfilled dream

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Forced into early retirement from cricket after injuries and bad form, Binod Das returned almost immediately as a certified coach. Photo credit: Binod Das Twitter © Cricbuzz

At the Nondescripts Cricket Club, an hour or so after the Nepal Under 19 team wrapped up its Asia Cup challenge, Binod Das, the former Nepal captain, has the U19 side's captain, Sandeep Lamichhane, throwing him some balls to hit. Lamichhane under-arms a few full tosses as instructed and Das nonchalantly keeps knocking it down the ground back to the thrower. It's a telling image of a man who misses being out there on the field.

Binod Das's bond with Nepal is more than just a soft spot somewhere in his heart. He's been associated with the team, in one capacity or the other, since the turn of the century. Now, he's the coach of the Under-19 team, tasked with ensuring Nepal produces the kind of players who will take the game to greater levels in the country.

He is still only 33 and playing for a less-renowned team, could easily have played four-five more years for his country. He looks every bit a cricketer still. In his heart, he still is... just that the priorities have now changed.

He now sits alongside 16, 17 and 18 year-old Nepali boys hoping to transform them into cricketers who can make a difference in their country's cricket. It's just the same continuant dream, but from a different seat.

"For me, there's nothing more than cricket at the moment," he tells Cricbuzz. "I obviously want to see Nepal playing at the highest level. That has been my dream, and it still remains."

The important people all have scars, they say, and Das is no exception. He was forced into retirement from cricket after injuries and bad form. However, he couldn't stay away from the game for long.He immediately got the Level 1 and Level II coaching licences through courses in Cricket Australia and Asian Cricket Council. Then he flew to Sri Lanka to get his Level III licence.

Nepal Cricket Association, too, wasted little time in bringing back its stalwart into the thick of things. He believes he fits in perfectly.

"I believe that I retired a little too early, but I'm happy that I did. I had the experience, I had the knowledge and I studied about cricket a lot. It was smooth sailing. I was captain of the team for quite some time, so it was only about shifting a gear and moving ahead.

"I've thoroughly enjoyed coaching the Under-19 team. It's very important that whatever you get into, you really feel for it, and me being a cricketer, I feel for cricket. Coaching is just an extension of my personality. I just wanted to give back whatever I got from cricket. But I know that the journey ahead is hard for sure, but I'm prepared for it," he says.

Das first made his appearance in Nepal's colours in 2000, when he was picked for the U19 team to play in the U19 World Cup. Das was one of the youngest players on view in Sri Lanka. The same place he returned as coach of the U19 team for the Youth Asia Cup.

Life has truly come a full circle, but the challenges have only just begun for Das.

But having the numbers is one thing, and harvesting them to get the best out of it is another. And that is where Nepal lacks big time. In April earlier this year, the Cricket Association of Nepal was banned by the International Cricket Council for government interference - something that has further setback the growth of cricket in the country. Das minces no words in underlining the importance of a strong set up in Nepal.

"Whoever comes into the board and to lead the system, they know this. They need to put up a domestic structure in place...where people are playing three-four months a year. They need to put up grounds, facilities so that players can compete at the at higher level. These are things everybody in Nepal knows. Even if you talk to layman who understands cricket, he will tell you this," he says emphatically.

Das has been around Nepal cricket long enough to understand its shortcomings, as well as where it needs to focus next on.

"The only way forward is if we can provide these kids with proper infrastructure. Domestic leagues, grounds, all these things if we can add on, then it will be great boost for our cricket. The players are there for sure, but the thing we lack is the number of matches. We're unable to provide them that. Also the kind of infrastructure - grounds, Gyms, indoor facilities all the things that are needed for a modern day cricketer.

"We've got the cricketers, if only we could add on to the numbers we're lacking in terms of what's needed for the cricketers, we'd be taken care of," he feels.

Das's dream of seeing Nepal regularly play top class cricket amongst the big boys is one that is consistent throughout the nation. The love for cricket is massive, even if it's not as ubiquitous as it is for football. And in a country which is close to 85 per cent covered by hilly terrain, finding the right spots for cricket academies and facilities is not going to be easy.

When Nepal qualified for 2014 T20 World Cup qualifiers, there was a massive celebration back in the country. They won two of their three games, but couldn't do enough to seal a spot in the main tournament. That, however, did little to dampen the joy of the fans back home. Nepal's cricketers were welcomed as heroes. An actual World Cup entry will be greatest sporting miracle for the country.

"Fortunately, we were able to play one World Cup but that isn't enough. We should be a team that features regularly in world cricket. I know it's a very tough road ahead and some good teams are vying for that place, but if you don't dream big, you won't achieve it. So let's dream that. My dream is to go beyond the expectations of people around the world and be a regular fixture in world cricket," he says, full of passion.

And what better for world cricket than if there's another beautiful, passion-filled, talented country taking up the gentleman's game and actually being good at it.

A lot lies on the shoulders of people like Binod Das, but he alone cannot do it all for Nepal.

"If we get things right, then we are not far away. Maybe by 2020, we should be a team that competes regularly at that level. But if we don't get things right, even 2050 won't be enough. Every other team is putting a system in place, even Malaysia are putting a system in place. Tomorrow, Malaysia might turn up and beat us easily."

He sounds the warning bell: "If we don't look after ourselves, it's going to a catastrophe."

"For teams like us, it's very important that we keep improving every day. It's not the end of the road. We have got a World Cup qualifier coming up, and it's very important that we qualify for the World Cup again. We've been able to upset quite a few teams at the Under-19 World Cup, and we want to continue doing so," he adds.

Nepal's giant-killing run in Under-19 World Cups is an impressive list. Das himself was part of the squad that defeated Pakistan and Bangladesh. In 2004, they overcame South Africa. They did it again in 2006, and added New Zealand to their list, too. But as time passed on, the spree didn't graduate to anything substantial. Nepal still remained in the lower runs of international cricket.

With each win, it seemed like Nepal were closer than ever to becoming a full international team, but it never came to fruition. It's a challenge that Das has to meet head on during his stint as a coach, and he feels that facilities back home in Nepal need a big upgrade to start with.

Nepal is struggling without a proper set up for its cricket, and to create a pool of players has been a mammoth task for everyone involved. Initially, a national Under-19 tournament used to help the selectors pick out promising players for their developmental squads, but in more recent times they've had to just rely on the provinces sending them three promising players for the Under-19 squads.There was no saying how talented the three cricketers were compared to others in the province. They just had to rely on those who were sent. It perhaps directly affected the state of the national team.

Under Das, the system took a turn for the better. The committee had selection trials in six different provinces and invited anyone under 19 to come show their skills. A grand total of 800 kids turned up for the trials, of whom 56 promising players were picked up.

The system is still not flawless. There could be kids in other provinces, too, and a one or two-day camp means everyone has to be available during that slot come hell or high water. But from having to depend on others to select the team to first-hand seeing the talent and cherry-picking the best, the move is a welcome one for Nepal.

And the results have almost immediately borne fruit. Nepal ran Sri Lanka ragged in their first match in the Youth Asia Cup but eventually fell short by one run. They fought hard against India, the defending champions, and harder to beat Malaysia in their final encounter. All this from a team that didn't even have time to have a proper training session together before they left for Sri Lanka.

"There are lots of challenges. It's very difficult to even put up a team at times in country like ours. But the one advantage we have is that there is a lot of interest from the boys. They want to play cricket. We've got numbers that are very surprising, even without having proper infrastructure, without having a proper career path. We've got a good number of kids wanting to take up cricket, and that's a good sign for a coach," says Das.

©Reuters

©Reuters

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