That, for Nepal, would complete a story of triumph after twin disasters — one natural, the other man-made. Among the worst-hit by the earthquake last April was Nepal’s main cricketing facility, Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground. “The new indoor nets facility was destroyed,” says Sheikh, adding that the senior team had to go to Dharamsala in June to prepare for the World T20 qualifiers. Soon, the country faced another setback — an economic blockade that stopped the flow of essential goods, including fuel, from India following protests over Nepal’s new constitution by the Madhesis. “Diesel was selling at 450-500 rupees a litre (roughly Rs 300). Even at that price, it was hard to procure,” says a source in the Nepalese cricket board, who did not wish to be named. The cascading effect on life took a toll on cricket as well. “We had a bowling machine, but couldn’t use it since it needed diesel to run,” he says. And, it became hard to procure basic equipment, even cricket balls, he adds. “A single practice session required a lot of cricket balls, and we were running out. Those available in the markets came at a very high price. So whenever any Nepal cricket official would visit Delhi, he would bring back a box full of balls. That’s how we managed,” says the source.
