BCCI extends helping hand to Nepal

The BCCI has extended its support to the cricket fraternity of Nepal, which has been devastated by a major earthquake that has claimed more than 5000 lives. In a meeting of its National Cricket Academy Board in New Delhi on Thursday, the BCCI decided to open the gates of its training facilities and technical expertise to Nepal cricketers till the country recovers from the natural calamity.

"BCCI stands with Nepal cricket in this hour of crisis," BCCI secretary Anurag Thakur told ESPNcricinfo after the NCA Board meeting. "We have offered our NCA facilities to Nepal cricket for coaching and training of their cricketers preparing for world events. Nepal has done well in cricket recently and we would like to support our neighbouring nations trying who are trying to emerge as cricket-playing nations."

With Nepal likely to take months to recover from the natural calamity, the BCCI has opened NCA's doors to Nepal's national squad to prepare for the forthcoming international fixtures. Nepal is set to compete in the World Twenty20 qualifiers in July, to be played in Ireland and Scotland.

The earthquake had left Nepal's preparations for the tournament in danger of suffering terribly. However, the BCCI's helping hand would mean the Nepal cricketers can hope to qualify for their second successive World Twenty20 appearance.

Thakur's move is a welcome change from the previous BCCI dispensation. N Srinivasan-led BCCI had not responded to a request from Cricket Association of Nepal and Afghanistan Cricket Board. It is understood that Thakur met with representatives from ACB during Afghanistan president Mohammad Ashraf Ghani's visit to India last week. Thakur has asked ACB to send in another formal request and is understood to have assured assistance in terms of technical expertise and training facilities.