The Tribhuvan University ground has hosted many international cricket matches for over two decades. Monday's scene was different, with an official cricket match being held under floodlights for the first time in Nepal.
What you should know
When Nepal hosted the first South Asian Games in 1984, Kirtipur Stadium also hosted an international match. However, that match was not cricket but football. The ground was later known as the Football Stadium.
In 1997, the Indian television Zee Network, in collaboration with the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), had put forward an ambitious plan to build the Kirtipur Cricket Stadium. However, less than 5 years later, Zee Network withdrew, leaving it as a mere playground. For more than two decades, the Tribhuvan University Stadium has hosted many international cricket matches.
The scene on Monday was different. The Tribhuvan University Stadium was illuminated by floodlights. The compulsion to sit in the open field to watch the match has been eliminated. An attractive parapet with chairs has been built there. For the first time in Nepal, an official cricket match has been held under floodlights.
The first match of the second season of Nepal Premier League (NPL) cricket was held. Prime Minister Sushila Karki formally launched NPL-2 by introducing the players of Monday's two competing teams, Kathmandu Gorkhas and Janakpur Bolts. With Monday's match, Nepali cricket has entered a new era, because now cricket under floodlights is possible in Nepal too. This has created an environment where matches can be held even after nightfall. Also, the confusion about whether or not the match will be held due to adequate lighting at the Kirtipur Stadium has now been resolved.
CAN Secretary Paras Khadka, posting a photo of the floodlights on the Kirtipur ground on social media, said, ‘As our cricket history moves forward into another new chapter, a dream, a reality and a possibility, which has great importance, has moved forward. All of us who are part of this story will move forward.’
Kathmandu defeated the defending champions Janakpur by 5 wickets in the first match. The winning team made full use of the advantage of playing in artificial light. Kathmandu won the toss and chose to bowl first, which proved decisive for the victory. Since it is difficult to bowl in floodlights, usually the team that wins the toss chooses to field first. This ‘trend’ will probably continue in this tournament from now on, whoever wins the toss in day-night matches will decide to bowl first.
Kathmandu captain Karan KC did not think twice about making such a decision. Just a day before the start of the competition, the Ministry of Urban Development had formally handed over the floodlights and parapets to CAN through the National Sports Council. The then government led by KP Sharma Oli had decided to upgrade the floodlights and parapets to a modern cricket stadium in 2081 BS. The stadium currently has a capacity of 10,000, but after the second phase of upgrading, its capacity will reach 25,000.
