DHAKA: The International Cricket Council (ICC) suspended the membership of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) after the board meeting reached the conclusion of government interference in Nepali cricket.

The apex body of Cricket took the decision on Monday accusing Nepal’s National Sports Council of leading Nepali cricket leadership into vacuum.

It also said the suspension would remain “until such time as the CAN becomes free of government interference and is properly structured to begin exploiting the tremendous cricket talent and opportunities that exist in Nepal,” reports The Himalayan Times.

The NSC had formed an ad hoc committee in March, refusing to give recognition to the elected committee under Chatur Bahadur Chand.

NSC Member Secretary Keshab Kumar Bista had claimed of taking ICC consent before forming the ad hoc committee.

Chand-led faction then moved the Supreme Court against NSC decision and the apex court has sent the case to full bench hearing for May 22.

“In light of the ongoing court case involving the CAN and the ad hoc committee established by the NSC, which has led to a vacuum in cricket leadership in Nepal, the board suspended the membership of CAN for breach of Article 2.9 of the ICC’s Articles of Association, which prohibits government interference and requires free and fair elections,” the ICC said in a media release.

“The suspension means that CAN will not be entitled to receive any ICC funding. However, the board, in its absolute discretion and considering that the players should not suffer due to this suspension, decided that the Nepal cricket teams would be able to continue to feature in ICC events.

ICC management will also now work with the Nepal’s cricket community, and other stakeholders, in order to assist with the development of a sustainable governance and administration structure for cricket in Nepal,” added the release.

Saying there was no functional body in Nepali cricket, the ICC appointed Asia Development Manager Bandula Warnapura to look after the preparation of the ICC World Cricket League.

BDST: 1344 HRS, APR 26, 2016
SR