Chatur Bahadur Chand, the President of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), recently embarked on a significant tour of Australia, with a pivotal stop at the Queensland Cricket headquarters. The visit aimed to strengthen ties between CAN, Queensland Cricket, and the Queensland Nepalese Cricket Association (QNCA), with discussions focusing on deeper engagement and collaboration.
During his visit, Chand met with key figures including Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson, General Manager -for Elite Teams, Performance & Pathways Joe Dawes, and Community Cricket Head of Operations, Growth & Engagement John Butterworth. The historic meeting was also enhanced through the attendance of QNCA President Ahmit Lohani, along with several representatives from QNCA.
The relationship between Queensland Cricket and QNCA has been steadily growing over the past two seasons through Cricket Australia’s T20 World Cup Legacy project, which has evolved into a broader Multicultural Action Plan. QNCA has also benefitted from the support of the QLD Cricket Foundation, receiving equipment support for their annual cricket tournament.
One of the notable achievements of QNCA was its participation in the inaugural Multination Challenger’s Trophy, where they finished as runners-up to the Pakistan Cultural Association, showcasing the talent and competitive spirit of the Nepalese cricket community in Queensland.
Queensland Cricket CEO Terry Svenson spoke glowingly about the current relationship that the organisation currently has with the Queensland Nepalese Cricket Association.
“The QNCA do amazing work across Queensland, particularly through their annual competition in which a Toowoomba-based side won this season, speaking to the spread of their impact” he said.
He continued, "Queensland Cricket look forward to furthering this support, especially off the back of Cricket Australia’s Multicultural Action Plan that was launched late last year”.
Discussions during the visit centered on the continued support for QNCA’s local programs, as well as exploring opportunities for national Nepalese representatives to participate in the Queensland Premier Competition. Both Queensland Cricket and QNCA expressed enthusiasm for furthering their partnership, with Queensland Cricket looking forward to continued collaboration with both organisations.
Joe Dawes, General Manager of Elite Teams, Performance & Pathways, also commented on the opportunity of connecting with national representative players.
“The Queensland Premier competition has had a proud history of overseas players participating within the competition, so connecting closely with a national body allows both organisations to mutually benefit” he said.
Chand's visit signifies the growing importance of cricket as a vehicle for cultural exchange and community engagement, highlighting the power of sport to unite people from diverse backgrounds. As cricket continues to grow in popularity globally, partnerships like the one between CAN, Queensland Cricket, and QNCA are instrumental in fostering a strong and inclusive cricketing community.