CAN elective congress begins

Kathmandu, September 27

The extraordinary elective general assembly of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) began here today.

Youth and Sports Minister Jagat Bahadur Sunar speaks during the opening ceremony of the extraordinary elective general assembly of CAN in Kathmandu on Friday, September 27, 2019. Photo: Naresh Krishna Shrestha/THT

The much-awaited elections, the final hurdle to have a chance in getting back the membership from the International Cricket Council, will be held on the second day of the assembly on Saturday. Two former presidents, Binay Raj Pandey and Chatur Bahadur Chand are in fray for the top post and the Independent Panel has set the nominations date and voting for tomorrow.

Pandey, who has served the CAN under various capacities including the president in the past, said he wanted to bring Nepali cricket back on track. “The association is in pathetic shape and a kind of neglected from local and international sector,” said Pandey. “Under such circumstances and after putting in so much effort, we need to have an efficient team to guide the sport into right track. We are already in Division-I and we need to start two-day cricket in our bid to get the Test status, which is not very difficult.”

Pandey accused the Chand-led team, which led Nepal to suspension in 2015, of trying to get into power again. “It is the same team that put Nepali cricket into so much trouble and I am not convinced that they can take it to new height,” he said. “I asked them to convince me with their vision but they failed to do so and I decided to come forward. It will not be easy for me and I also need a good team. They might run CAN for four-five years but I guarantee they are not capable of developing Nepal’s cricket.”

Another contender, Chand said he deserved a chance to prove himself. “Binay Raj Pandey is already a tested leader and Nepal was in Division-V when he was at the helm. He has held several positions for a long time in CAN but he was not successful in taking Nepali cricket to the position where it is now,” said Chand. “CAN was in suspension soon after I was elected the president and I was not able to do anything. So I deserve a second chance and we are confident of taking Nepali cricket to a new height, including the Test status,” he added.

Chand said he would form a panel if the assembly could not get unanimous team. “We will definitely go into the elections with a team and Ashok Nath Pyakurel, who was general secretary in the previous committee, will by my Secretary. We will also file nominations for other posts,” said Chand. He also said that his team requested Pandey to be the chief patron and help his team for overall development of cricket.

The elective general assembly will elect a 17-member executive committee and the Independent Panel is scheduled to handover the CAN to the new body tomorrow. A total of 59 voters — 39 representatives from districts and 20 from provinces — will take part in the elections. The assembly is being held after the ICC-formed Nepal Advisory Committee drafted the statute, which was unanimously approved by CAN general assembly, and the Independent Panel conducted elections of districts and provinces committees.

The ICC had formed the Nepal Advisory Committee after suspending the CAN membership for government interference and unfair elections four years ago. The NSC had formed ad hoc committee under Ramesh Kumar Silwal, who is currently the Member Secretary of NSC, after declining to give approval to the elected body. Chand-led team knocked Supreme Court doors and the ICC board decided to suspend the CAN.

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