Nepal Celebrates Historic First Victory Against West Indies

Nepal on Sunday savour a historic triumph, defeating the West Indies in their first-ever international cricket victory against a Test-playing nation.

The victory came in the first T20 International of a three-match series held in Sharjah on Saturday, with Nepal prevailing by 19 runs. This result marks a major milestone for the rising cricketing nation, who overcame the two-time T20 World Cup champions.

“It is a historic win for us and helps improve our players’ standing in the cricketing world,” said Chatur Bahadur Chand, President of the Cricket Association of Nepal, in an interview with AFP.

Nepal posted a competitive total of 148-8, driven by a strong middle-order performance, before their bowlers executed a disciplined strategy to restrict the West Indies and secure the win.

“It was not expected, but as the game progressed we saw there was a chance we could win,” said Pujan Thapa, 27, who watched the match on TV in Kathmandu with family and friends.
“We were so happy, we stood up and danced.”

Fans at the stadium, many in replica Nepal jerseys, waved national flags and cheered passionately throughout the game.

Nepal’s captain Rohit Paudel dedicated the victory to the martyrs of recent anti-corruption protests, which had killed at least 73 people and toppled the government.

“It would be great if we could give people a little bit of happiness,” Paudel said, according to ESPNcricinfo.com.

Although cricket does not enjoy the same widespread adulation in mountainous Nepal as it does elsewhere in South Asia, its popularity has been steadily growing. Nepal was granted One-Day International (ODI) status by the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 2018.

Former chief selector Dipendra Chaudhary praised the team’s dedication and effort: “This win is a result of the team’s hard work. It will motivate them to play well and inspire other young cricketers.”

Social media platforms were flooded with congratulatory messages, celebrating Nepal’s historic victory. For the nation, the win is not just a cricketing milestone but also a symbol of hope and pride amidst challenging times.

This match represents a turning point for Nepali cricket, boosting both the team’s confidence and the sport’s profile in the country, signalling that Nepal is emerging as a competitive force on the international stage.