Kathmandu – In a gracious and heartwarming gesture, the Embassy of India in Kathmandu extended a warm welcome to the Nepal National Cricket Team, led by Captain Rohit Paudel, and the executive members of the Cricket Association of Nepal. The event took place at the Embassy, strengthening the bonds of sportsmanship and goodwill between the two nations.
Ambassador of India to Nepal, Naveen Srivastava, presided over the event and had the distinct honor of handing over a valuable assortment of professional sporting equipment to the Nepal Cricket Team. Among the equipment were 20 cricket bats, procured from Sareen Sports, which were presented to the team’s Captain, Mr. Rohit Paudel. This symbolic handover was conducted in the presence of Chatur Bahadur Chand, President of the Cricket Association of Nepal, and Paras Khadka, the Association’s Secretary.
The equipment donation was made on behalf of the B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation and SJVN Ltd., a Public Sector Undertaking of the Government of India, emphasizing the enduring spirit of collaboration and friendship between the two neighboring countries. In a reciprocal gesture, the Nepal Cricket Team gifted the Ambassador a signed jersey as an expression of gratitude and unity.
During the event, Ambassador Naveen Srivastava extended his warmest congratulations to the Nepal National Cricket Team for their remarkable performance, particularly in the recently held Asia Cup and Asian Games. He emphasized that this equipment donation marks an exciting addition to the flourishing people-to-people connections between India and Nepal. The Ambassador also wished the cricket team the best of luck in their upcoming endeavors, including the tri-nation T20 Cup Finals and the ICC-T20 World Cup Qualifiers, scheduled to commence at the end of the month.
In response, President Chatur Bahadur Chand, Secretary Paras Khadka, and the cricket team’s Head Coach, Monty Desai, conveyed their sincere appreciation to the Embassy, the B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation, and SJVN Ltd. They emphasized that this equipment handover represents the beginning of a collaborative journey between the Indian Embassy and the Cricket Association of Nepal.
This event serves as another milestone in the enduring friendship and cooperation between India and Nepal, further solidifying the strong ties between the two nations through the medium of sports. Notably, the Indian Embassy in Kathmandu previously provided a bus to the Cricket Association of Nepal in 2013, and via the B.P. Koirala India-Nepal Foundation, supported the Nepal Deaf Cricket Team’s participation in a triangular cricket tournament in Kolkata in April-May 2023.