NEW DELHI: On Thursday March 15, Nepal became the latest Associate team to gain one-day international (ODI) status by the ICC.
The moment of joy came after they beat Papua New Guinea by six wickets in Harare during the ICC World Cup Qualifiers. For a team that was given Associates status 12 years ago, it has been hailed as an “amazing” achievement by the veteran allrounder and Nepal captain
Paras Khadka, while current spin bowling sensation
Sandeep Lamichhane - who was purchased by IPL franchise Delhi Daredevils this year - termed it “a beautiful journey” which was the result of plenty of “hard work” and “patience”.
ALSO READ: Nepal captain delights in 'massive' ODI statusDespite becoming an ODI team, however, Nepal will not participate in next year’s 50-over World Cup in England, having not made it into the Super League of the ongoing Qualifiers in Zimbabwe.
Nevertheless, it is a joyous occasion for the Himalayan country which has been widely celebrated.
ALSO READ: Nepal thrash PNG to secure ODI statusOn that note, here’s a look at how Nepal moved up the cricket ladder to seal ODI status.
- In 1988, the
Nepal Cricket Association
was granted affiliate status by the ICC.
- In 1996, Nepal became an Associates member.
- In 2002, Nepal finished second in the ACC Trophy.
- In 2004, they played their maiden first-class match.
- In 2006, they won the ACC Premier League.
- Nepal’s journey towards ODI status began in 2008 when they first turned out in Division Five of the ICC’s World Cricket League (WCL).
- Two years later, they won Division Five by beating USA and finished third in Division Four.
- In 2012, Nepal won the WCL Division Four by beating USA by eight wickets in the final and were promoted to Division Three. Basanta Regmi topped the wickets chart with 21 and was named Player of the Series.
- In 2013, Nepal won Division Three of the WCL. They lost their first two games to USA and Uganda but recovered to beat Bermuda, Oman and Italy to reach the final, where Uganda were defeated by five wickets. With this win, Nepal progressed to the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers.
- Also in 2013, they gained T20I status. Nepal finished third in Group B of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier and exited in the semi-finals of the play-off round.
- At the 2014 World Cup Qualifiers, they finished last in Group A with four losses in a row.
- Having gained T20I status, Nepal narrowly missed out on entering the 2014 ICC World T20 after they lost out to hosts Bangladesh on net run-rate.
- They stumbled through the 2015 World Cup Qualifiers, winning one of six matches to finish last in Group A. Also in 2015, they lost their T20I status. However, there was some good news that year for Nepal as they qualified for the WCL Championship.
- In 2016, the Nepal Cricket Association was suspended by the ICC, but the ban did not affect the team’s ability to play cricket.
- In WCL Division Two last month, Nepal pulled off three very close wins over Namibia (by one wicket), Kenya (off the last ball) and Canada (with one wicket left). The match against Canada was one Nepal had to win to make it to the World Cup Qualifiers.