After Tragic Earthquake, Nepal Cricket Team Look to Bring Back Lost Smiles By Winning World T20 qualifiers

After an earthquake of mammoth proportions which rocked the country, Nepal are still recovering from the tragedy, which shook the himalayan region on 25 April. More than 8000 lives were lost, resulting in broken families and dreams.

The Nepal cricket team, to some extent, can bring a few smiles back to the nation by winning the World T20 qualifiers and progressing through to the main tournament.

The Nepal cricket team have been preparing well for the upcoming World T20 qualifiers, which is set to start from 9 July in Ireland and Scotland.

Well known Indian physiotherapist Aijaz Ashai, who has joined the Nepal cricket team as head physio, will travel with the Nepal cricket team.

Ashai has met the Nepal cricketers on an individual basis and has stated that the best thing that can happen to them now is qualifying for the World T20.

"I met the team and talked to every player individually and made them understand what has happened should be left in the past. The best thing that can happen is to play well, win and qualify for the World T20. That will be the biggest thing," IANS quoted Ashai as saying.

"Skipper Paras Khadka said to me 'The only way we can bring back happiness in the faces of the Nepalese people is to win the World T20 qualifiers and make it to the main tournament'."

"People in Nepal love cricket and that will be the best gift for them," Ashai said.

It is not going to be an easy task for Nepal with other teams such as Netherlands, Scotland, Hong Kong, Canada, Ireland, Kenya and Afghanistan all eager to make it to the main event in India next year.

Nepal have been placed in group A with teams such as Ireland, Hong Kong, and USA amongst others. Nepal play their first match of the competition against the US at Civil Service Cricket Club at Belfast.

After the devastating earthquake, the BCCI helped the Nepal team prepare for the T20 World Cup qualifiers by arranging a training camp at Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association stadium in Dharamsala.