Nepal cricket team is all set for its One-Day International (ODI) debut as they face the Netherlands at Amstelveen’s VRA Ground. In March this year, Nepal gained the ODI status after defeating Papua New Guinea (PNG) by six wickets in the Cricket World Cup Qualifier play-off. Though the road to the ODI status began in 1988 when Nepal’s cricket team was granted affiliate status by the ICC (International Cricket Council). As Nepal prepare for their first ODI, captain Paras Khadka has shared his thoughts ahead of the historic game. Khadka, in his column for icc-cricket.com, wrote that the match against the Netherlands is only the beginning.

“This has been such a long, amazing journey for Nepal cricket but playing our first ever One-Day Internationals against the Netherlands is only the beginning. We have always wanted to get to this point but the challenge is to keep on growing. Eight years ago we were playing in ICC World Cricket League Division Five and now we are among the top 16 nations in the world, with ODI status guaranteed for the next four years,” wrote Khadka.

The 30-year-old also stated that the team’s next goal is to achieve the Test status. He also said, “we have worked hard for ODI status and the games against the Netherlands are opportunities for us to explore ourselves, enjoy the experience and hopefully put up good performances.” Nepal Cricket Team to Play Its First-Ever ODI Match on August 1, Against The Netherlands: A Look at the Statistics of Nepalese Cricket.

Khadka also wrote about the 2004 ICC Under 19 World Cup when Nepal defeated South Africa twice, New Zealand and Zimbabwe. He further added, “One of the happiest days since then was the day – 27 November 2013 – when we beat Hong Kong off the last ball to qualify for the 2014 ICC World T20 in Bangladesh.”

“I remember feeling very nervous. You have dreamed all these years and then it’s there in front of you. Three and a half hours away. You can make the biggest step in your cricket careers. It did take a lot out of us. We played some of our best cricket during those three matches at the ICC World T20, against Hong Kong again, Afghanistan and Bangladesh,” wrote the Nepal captain.

“Then this year qualifying from ICC World Cricket League Division Two in Namibia and making it to the ICC World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe was another special moment. Those are the high points. This year has been so important for my generation of cricketers because we have worked so hard to get to this point,” he added.

Khadka was all praise for Nepal’s “fantastic team spirit” which he considers as a big plus point. “The team has been very honest and hard-working and fights and we fight for every run and every wicket,” he wrote.

Talking about the fan base, Khadka wrote, “we also have an amazing fan following wherever we go. Nepalese people who have settled in other parts of the world come out in big numbers to support us – we are very blessed. They really boost us up.”

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 30, 2018 09:38 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).