When the Nepal Cricket Association approached renowned Mumbai-based sports physiotherapist Dr Aijaz Ashai to join their squad in January, the deal didn't work out for various reasons including remuneration.

In mid-April, mother earth shook Nepal. A couple of months on, the Nepal cricket team is out on a mission to spread happiness in the country by winning the ICC World T20 qualifiers in Ireland. Victory will, of course, assure them of a place in the ICC World T20 to be held in India next year.

Helped poured in from various quarters with BCCI helping them out by providing them with a venue — HPCA Stadium, Dharamsala — to prepare for their sojourn.

Ashai, who could not commit to Nepal earlier, too, joined the team's physical fitness camp for emotional reasons.

"They were obviously quite depressed with what they went through in that deadly earthquake. But the boys did not bring it on field," said Ashai, who left the Bengal Warriors ProKabaddi League team to join Nepal.

Ashai, who has his roots in Kashmir, said he doubled up as the team's mental conditioning coach. "I told them about the cricketers from Jammu & Kashmir. What they went through last year when there were floods there.

Everything was destroyed. They had no facilities to prepare for the new season. I shared with them the stories on how they bounced back to do so well in the season," said Ashai.

"It took me two days to know them. I told them how many athletes have gone through tough times and come out tougher. I told them to treat this like an opportunity to show the world what they are made of," he added. "They were a happy lot, enjoying session of cricket. They also defeated a side comprising players from the Himachal Pradesh Ranji Trophy and Under-23 sided. These two weeks in Dharamsala were all about fitness and playing matches. The boys are mentally tough with an average of 25," said Ashai, who will be leaving for Ireland on June 27.

Having worked with some high-profile teams like Mumbai Heroes in the Celebrity Cricket League, the Indian rugby team and the Mumbai Ranji Trophy side to name a few, Ashai found Nepali cricketers to be introverts. "They are quite shy. They hardly speak. It took some time to open up," said Ashai.

Ashai was impressed with quite a few players. "The boys are strong because they come from the hills. Fast bowler Sompal Kami bowls 135 kph-plus. But he is someone who is very soft. Unlike some fast bowlers who have a lot of attitude, he is a simple boy. Their captain, Paras Khadka, led by example. He is a true leader," he said.

Narrating an incident, Ashai said one of the boys showed a video of people thronging their games. "They want to leave the past behind. They want their people to be happy again," he said.

Apart from Ashai, another Mumbaikar will help out Nepal achieve their dream. The team has hired the services of Rajasthan Royals coach Monty Desai (batting).