From first cricket game to first ODI match - Here's how Nepal cricket's history looks like

The history of cricket in Nepal is more than 100 years old, with the ruling Rana Dynasty at that time, introducing the sport to the country in the 1920s. But the first real step to taking cricket forward in the Himalayan nation happened under the aristocracy in 1946 with the establishment of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). When King Tribhuvan took over from the Ranas in 1951, cricket started spreading its wings among the ordinary populace. Then, in 1961, when the CAN became the part of the National Sport Council in the country, the promotion for the sport started in the entire country of Nepal, but it was a major thing in the Kathmandu valley only.Also Read: Asia Cup 2023: India vs Nepal - Date, Timings, Venue, Head-To-Head, Squads, and More In the 1980s, when cricket grounds started to come up in Nepal, including the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, it led to the country joining the International Cricket Council (ICC) as an affiliated member in 1988. Then, Nepal got affiliated as a member in 1990 with the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), becoming a full member with them in 1994. Nepal cricket team plays cricket for the first time The biggest moment for Nepal cricket in the previous century happened on February 2, 1996, when they became the associate member of the ICC. The men’s cricket team played a match for the first time in their history on September 6, 1996, losing the match to Bangladesh in the ACC Trophy. After moderate success in the ACC Trophy as the years went by, Nepal men’s cricket team got the opportunity to compete in first-class cricket in 2004, defeating Malaysia, but drawing against UAE. #PAGE_BREAK# Nepal cricket team wins a trophy for the first time The first major trophy win was achieved by Nepal in 2010, when they defeated USA in the final of the ICC World Cricket League Division Five final, which was held in Kathmandu. In 2013, Nepal finished in third place in the ICC T20 World Cup Qualifier to advance through to the main tournament next year. After taking part in the ICC T20 World Cup 2014, Nepal were awarded the T20I status by the ICC on June 28, 2014 in a major announcement. #PAGE_BREAK# Nepal cricket team competes in international cricket for the first time In their first international T20I match, Nepal defeated Hong Kong in Chattogram on March 16, 2014, during the ICC T20 World Cup 2014. They went on to lose their second match to the hosts Bangladesh, before defeating Afghanistan in a thriller to round off their tournament. Although these matches were played before ICC officially awarded the T20I status to Nepal, they are still counted as international matches because the governing body had clarified about it earlier. #PAGE_BREAK# Nepal cricket team takes part in ODI cricket for the first time Nepal gained ODI status on March 15, 2018 from the ICC after defeating Papua New Guinea during the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifier 9th place playoff match. They played their first ODI against the Netherlands on August 1, 2018, losing in a one-sided contest in Amstelveen, before defeating them a couple of days later, at the same venue by one run. Now, in just five years’ time, Nepal are set to compete against two of the biggest cricket nations in the world, India and Pakistan, at the Asia Cup 2023, to write a new chapter in their cricketing history.

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From first cricket game to first ODI match - Here's how Nepal cricket's history looks like