Desai requests BCCI to invite Nepal to participate in Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy

Nepal’s journey over the last one year could very well turn into a superhit Bollywood movie. From being in a situation where they could potentially lose their ODI status, Nepal rubbed shoulders with teams like India and Pakistan in the Asia Cup and have now qualified for next year's T20 World Cup in the West Indies and the USA.

The change started when Monty Desai took charge of the side in February this year. With a couple of coaching stints under his belt, Desai took charge of the Nepal side, who had a mountain to climb. Losing the ODI status, which they gained in 2018, would have been disastrous. Desai, however, was never going to let that happen. 

While Desai has had experience as a batting coach of national teams like Afghanistan and West Indies and also a stint with Rajasthan Royals and the Andhra team, taking charge of a team as a whole was not familiar territory.

Also read - Monty Desai: The architect behind Nepal’s resurrection

When Nepal won the ACC Premier Cup at home, through which they qualified for the Asia Cup, fans had the opportunity to witness something special. They left no stone unturned when it came to supporting their team in huge numbers and stood by them through thick and thin. The image of the fans standing with umbrellas over their heads during the final in Kathmandu was indeed a sight to behold. 

With so much support from the fans, Desai feels it won't be a bad idea for the IPL franchises to invest in Nepal. “The IPL main franchises have gone all the way to the USA. They are investing there. All the IPL franchises should visit and experience a live game in Nepal. There is no question that why you would not invest into Nepal,” Desai told SportsBoom.

"We are also trying to look at companies with good credentials to come and invest in Nepal T20 leagues. Nepal has a huge potential in terms of eyeballs. There are thirty-five million people. The Cricket Association of Nepal is very keen on this. If a T20 league is conducted professionally. The league becomes their most important platform to scout and unearth talent."

Talking about the growth of Nepal Cricket, Desai said: "You just have to see the talent. They just need exposure. I know these boys are raw, not very well polished. But you should see the kind of heart they bring in when they get onto the ground and perform. A little bit of support, a little bit of exposure with good infrastructure in place, they will be very exciting talents.”

Desai also said that the BCCI could invite Nepal to participate in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy.