CAN takes action against four players, including captain Malla

KATHMANDU: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has taken action against four senior players of the Nepali men’s cricket team.

CAN’s Board meeting held on Wednesday decided to suspend four players for the first six months of 2022.

The four players facing the action are national cricket team’s Captain Gyanendra Malla, vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airy, fast bowler Sompal Kami and Kamal Singh Airy, who have been involved in the central contract dispute with CAN. Malla and Dipendra have also lost their captaincy.

This is the first time that CAN took disciplinary action against national team players.

Similarly, spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been made the new captain of the Nepali team. The newly appointed captain is currently in Australia to play in the Big Bash League.

CAN also decided to start closed training of the national team players in Pokhara from December 21.

Meanwhile, six CAN Board members have protested the decision of action against players and have penned a note of dissent. The CAN Board members dissatisfied with the decision taken are Rishi Ram Gautam, Dawood Ansari, Karan Mahatara, Amit Babu Pandey, Chhumbi Lama and Sanjay Singh.