Nepal was playing against Papua New Guinea in Zimbabwe on Chait 1, 2074 as part of the One Day Cricket World Cup qualifiers. In that match, Nepal won by 6 wickets as required. In the next match, the Netherlands defeated Hong Kong and Nepali cricket managed to create history. The Nepali cricket team got recognition as an ODI nation for the first time from the same match. This achievement spread happiness all over Nepal.

At that time, there was a voice that Nepal needed an international level cricket stadium. The Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation, which is in the news for building settlements such as Musahar with the help of Nepalis abroad, immediately asked for suggestions through social media to make a stadium or 'Numna Nepal' plan first. Many suggested the foundation to start building the stadium first. 

With the same encouragement, the foundation was told to build the first cricket stadium with public investment. Bharatpur Metropolitan Corporation finally promised to provide land to the foundation, which was looking for land in various districts for the construction of the stadium. After the commitment to get the land owned by the University of Agriculture and Forestry, on 16th January 2075, it was announced that Gautam Buddha International Cricket Stadium will be built with all the pomp and ceremony in Kathmandu with all the top leaders as witnesses.

Metropolitan Chief Renu Dahal on behalf of Bharatpur Metropolitan City and Sitaram Kattel 'Dhurmus' on behalf of the foundation signed the agreement. In the agreement, it was mentioned that the foundation will transfer the ownership to Bharatpur Metropolitan Corporation after completion of construction. It was mentioned in the agreement that all the ownership will be transferred by the foundation to the metropolis even if the construction is stopped in the middle. The design of the stadium with a capacity of 30,000 spectators was prepared in the shape of a lotus flower. 

Accordingly, the construction of the stadium started on 10th of November 2076 in the area of ​​20 bigha 6 katha of the university. Various organizations and individuals continued to support the foundation by collecting donations. The foundation left no stone unturned to garner support. From building a model ground to holding a cricket tournament, we had to raise support by giving various offers. A large Dhandhanyan area Gnanamahayagya was also organized. But those who spoke at the Mahayagya did not support the foundation. 

The foundation did not stop its work even during the corona virus epidemic spread around the world. Continued work following health precautions. But due to the effect of Corona, everyone's business was affected. The process of supporting the foundation stopped. Even though they had no cash, the foundation continued to build on the arrears with the belief that support would be collected. But in the end, no support was collected from anywhere and the outstanding amount exceeded 180 million, so the foundation could not proceed with the work. 

After the outstanding amount reached 184 million 43 million, the foundation stopped working completely from July 22, 2078. While the foundation had prepared the field and planted the grass, the pitch was ready to be built. A parapit with a capacity of 5,000 was sloped and prepared, and stones were laid to make PCC for the construction of additional parapits. Among the two VIP towers, the footing slope of Tower-1 was completed and the foundation for the footing in Tower-2 was dug and prepared. 

3 years turned into a bush 

After the work of the stadium was stopped, the stadium complex turned into a bush in about three years. The field, which was cleared by planting grass, became kasghari. The rods of the stout pillars prepared for the parapit began to rust. The stadium, which was beautiful during construction, turned ugly after the work stopped. 

Renu Dahal, the head of Bharatpur Metropolitan Municipality, had no reason to believe that the stadium will be built, and we will leave it as it is. But she persisted. At that time, the land dispute arose again. It was agreed that the metropolis would give the same amount of land on which the stadium was built to the University of Agriculture and Forestry.

However, according to the agreement, the university kept pressuring the metropolis to proceed in a different way saying that the land cannot be taken elsewhere. Finally, it has been agreed that the metropolis will give annual rent to the university for using the land under the Lease Act. Similarly, the construction process has been completed after the Wagmati provincial government and the federal government prioritized it, and the federal government has included this stadium in the Gaurav project. 

180 million arrears problem

After taking ownership from Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation, the metropolis formed an evaluation committee and appointed an independent auditor to prepare an audit report, while the National Vigilance Center and the Intensive Urban Development Project tested the material progress. About 2 months later, after those agencies submitted all the reports to the metropolis, the metropolis sent the details to the federal government. It is mentioned that there is a total payment obligation of Rs. 18 crore 43 lakh.  The

report states that work worth Rs 63 crore has been completed and materials worth Rs 3 crore are at the construction site. After all these reports came to the fore, the foundation appealed to the government to waive the arrears. Since Bharatpur metropolis could not give money directly for the payment of obligations, the federal government also initiated the payment through the cabinet meeting. On behalf of the foundation, Sitaram Kattel also continued to visit Singha Darbar. 

After a long effort, the Cabinet meeting of the Federal Government held on June 12, 2080 decided to release 12 million rupees for payment of arrears. Accordingly, on June 19, the federal government sent 12 million rupees to the account of Bharatpur Metropolitan Corporation for payment of liabilities. But after the ministry sent the money in the account to 'spend according to the prevailing law', the foundation's outstanding amount could not be paid and the amount was frozen again and returned to the federal government, Jagganath Aryal, deputy director of the metropolis, says. 

When the Maoist chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal was the Prime Minister, Sitaram was disappointed when the money that he had been receiving from Singh Darbar was frozen even after the new government was formed under the leadership of KP Oli. But so far the amount has not come again. "I am constantly running to Singha Darbar for the payment of dues, but still the work has not been done, it has become more difficult after the money received has been frozen," said Sitaram.

In 30 months the stadium will be playable 

With the help of Wagmati State Government and Federal Government, Bharatpur Metropolitan Municipality has restarted the stadium construction. After inviting bids twice, Himalayan Kalinchok BBR JV has awarded the contract and started the work. The work has started since last August after the contract was signed between the metropolis and the construction company on June 23, 2081 for 785 million 91 thousand including VAT and PS. After the

agreement, a joint survey was conducted with the technicians of the construction company and Bharatpur Metropolitan Municipality. After that, the construction company continued the work. The PCC slope has been completed by soling on the four stands towards the parapit, while the beam slope of the footing of one of the two VIP towers has been completed, while the footing of the other tower is in progress. By Dasain, the construction company has completed 10 percent of the work. 

Metropolitan Chief Dahal has been going to inspect the stadium himself every now and then. He is determined to finish playing international matches after preparing the stadium. "The reconstruction of the stadium has started after a lot of hard work, now we will leave it as an international level stadium," Chief Dahal said. 

The structure currently being built will be of lesser capacity than the one designed by the Dhurmus-Suntali Foundation. Earlier, it was said that a stadium with a capacity of 30,000 spectators will be built, but according to the current agreement, a stadium with a capacity of 15,000 will be built. Since 5000 capacity parapit has already been constructed, additional 10000 capacity parapit will be constructed. Building the structure now will allow for later additions. Two VIP towers, ground and 5 pitches will be constructed. The two towers will have player box, official box, corporate box, media box, VIP guests.