ICC suspends Nepal

DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) has suspended the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) in view of government interference in the board. The ICC took the decision during its board meeting on Tuesday.

In December, Nepal’s National Sports Council (NSC) had formed an ad-hoc committee to run the CAN. This happened soon after Chatur Bahadur Chand was elected the CAN’s president in controversial annual general meeting — which was not attended by its then president Tanka Angbuhang — without the NSC’s permission. The Chand-led CAN faction then filed a court case, which is still pending, challenging the NSC’s decision.

“In light of the ongoing court case involving the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and the Ad hoc Committee established by the Nepalese National Sports Council (NSC), which has led to a vacuum of 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 statement.

The ICC board added that the suspension would stay in place “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.”

While the suspension will cut off ICC funding for the CAN, the ICC board decided that Nepal national teams could continue to feature in ICC events.

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