Sri Lanka’s legendary batsman Roy Dias who took over as coach in 2001 has been the architect of Nepal’s triumphs and he has moulded a nation high on enthusiasm and short of experience into a fine competitive force. No greater evidence of his ability to maximise the skills of his charges can be seen than by the performance of the U-15 team in the 2006 ACC Elite Cup. Only two of the Nepal squad had ever played any form of competitive cricket before reaching Malaysia to play the event, two weeks later they had won it. The opposition wasn’t bad, far from it. It was just that Nepal did the basics and then just a little bit more, very well thanks to all that their coach had inspired them to learn.

The one level they have yet to master is that of the seniors, where they have so far found the seasoned talents of a full-strength UAE just that little bit too much for them. But they’re pushing, they’re certainly pushing and the battle between them and the UAE should be fascinating in the years ahead.

A regime change at the Cricket Association of Nepal has led to the adoption of a more professional approach to development. Greater sponsorship and more focussed domestic competitions have been the result. Work has already started on a national Academy, felt to be vital given the extremes of Nepal’s weather for indoor practise, which will be partly funded by the ACC