The Nepali women’s cricket team is currently busy preparing for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier. The team has been training at the Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground.

Having qualified for the Global Qualifier for the first time by crossing the Asia regional qualification stage, the Nepali team is now preparing with the goal of playing in the Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time.

Nepal’s men’s cricket team is set to play the T20 World Cup in India in about two months. At the same time, Nepal’s women’s cricket team is also preparing for the Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, which will be held in Nepal. As a result, public attention is now increasingly focused on women’s cricket as well.

Ahead of the qualifiers, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has appointed a new head coach. Indian-origin coach Harshal Jayant Pathak has taken charge as the head coach of the Nepali women’s team.

According to CAN’s Cricket Operations Manager Binod Das, Pathak has been appointed for an initial term of two years. He previously coached Thailand’s women’s cricket team for a long period, and under his guidance, Thailand qualified for and played in the Women’s T20 World Cup for the first time.

Pathak’s goal is now to help Nepal achieve the same feat. However, with limited time remaining, this will also be a challenging task.

Although Indian coaches had previously served as consultants and batting coaches, this is the first time that a foreigner has been appointed as the head coach of the women’s cricket team.

Previously, Jagat Tamata, Samsang Jung Thapa, Binod Das, and Manoj Katwal have worked as head coaches of the women’s team, while India’s Devika Palshikar and Manish Kumar Jha served as consultant coaches.

A new dimension in women’s cricket

CAN has stated that Pathak has been appointed not only to lead the senior women’s team but to oversee women’s cricket as a whole. The appointment of a full-time foreign coach for the women’s team for the first time has added a new dimension to women’s cricket in Nepal.

“Our objective is to reform the overall women’s cricket team. He will be entirely involved with the junior and senior team, which is why we have referred to him as the Head of Women’s Cricket,” says Binod Das. “He will also have assistant coaches. His role will be the most crucial in women’s cricket.”

CAN had opened applications for coaches holding ECB or CA Level-3 certification (or equivalent) with at least five years of professional coaching experience. Accordingly, Pathak was appointed. With seven years of coaching experience in Thai cricket alone, Pathak said he saw great potential in Nepali women’s cricket and was influenced by that.

He also said he observed strong intent in Nepal’s batting. 

“Intent is the most important thing. I see that intent and desire in Nepali players,” he says.

Pathak praised the cricketing environment in Nepal as well. 

“The cricket grounds are very good. I’m excited and wanted to work with a good team,” he says. “I’ve observed this team even as an opponent. I’ve analysed their strengths, weaknesses, and capabilities. It’s a passionate team, and working with such a team excites me. My goal is to identify talent and help them perform better.”

He said his focus would remain on the overall development of women’s cricket. 

“The development of women’s cricket is the most important thing. From stepping up young players to strengthening bench strength, everything matters,” he says. “I will work in line with the vision of developing cricket from the junior level.”

Pathak emphasised the importance of building a positive environment. 

According to him, players must have a deep desire to win competitions. They need to understand that before the match, they are there to learn, but during the match, they must compete. 

Nepali team captain Indu Barma considers Pathak’s appointment as a positive step. 

“His appointment is a very good thing for us. Ultimately, we are the ones who play, but working on skills with the coaches gives us added advantages,” she says to Onlinekhabar.

U-19 World Cup captain and current senior team vice-captain Puja Mahato also said Pathak is an excellent coach and expressed confidence that he could guide Nepal to the World Cup, just as he did with Thailand.

The goal is World Cup qualification

The ICC Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier will be held in Nepal in January. Ten teams, including Nepal, will participate, with matches beginning on January 14 at the Mulpani Cricket Ground and Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground. Warm-up matches will be held on January 14 and 16, while the main matches will start on January 18.

Nepal has been placed in Group B alongside Scotland, Thailand, the Netherlands, and Zimbabwe. 

Since the tournament is being held on home soil, Nepal’s natural goal is to qualify for the World Cup.

Coach Pathak said that qualification for the World Cup is the immediate objective and expressed optimism about Nepal’s chances.

“I am positive that we can qualify. There are challenges, but this team has the capacity,” he says.  

Captain Indu Barma said that everyone in the team is working hard. 

“We are preparing with the mindset of pushing ourselves. We believe we must perform well on match day and do our best,” she said.

Puja Mahato echoes Barma. 

“The focus is on how we can improve from before. This time, we must qualify at any cost,” she says. “I see this as an opportunity. Senior players have dreamed of the World Cup for a long time. This time, we will play the World Cup for them as well.”

Fitness-focused training, enthusiastic players

Currently, 20 players are in the women’s team training camp. Fitness has been given top priority, and trainers have been appointed accordingly.

Coach Pathak stressed the importance of fitness for improving fielding. 

“We still need to work more on fielding, and for that, good fitness is essential. Work is ongoing in that direction,” he says.

Former captain Rubina Chhetri said everyone is working hard to improve fitness. 

“We are working on fitness. We see it as something we must do, and everyone is putting in effort,” she said.

Senior-most player Sita Rana Magar also said preparations are going very well. 

“Preparation has been excellent. The arrival of trainers has been very helpful,” she said.

From Captain Indu to younger players, everyone is excited to play a home tournament.

According to the players, the combination of senior and young players has helped strengthen team balance and maturity.

 “The mix of senior and young players is very beneficial,” says Magar. Mahato also shared that she is getting opportunities to learn and stay motivated through the senior players.