POKHARA: Bhutan’s national men’s cricket team is set to play four friendly practice matches at the cricket ground inside Pokhara Stadium to mark World Tourism Day.
The Bhutanese team is visiting Pokhara as part of its preparations for the upcoming ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Sub-regional Qualifier ‘A’.
Sanjay Kanta Sigdel, president of the Gandaki Provincial Cricket Association, said the Bhutanese team will play four practice matches in Pokhara with the support of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and under the organization of the Gandaki Provincial Cricket Association.
According to Sigdel, Bhutan selected Pokhara as its training destination ahead of the tournament, which is scheduled to begin in Malaysia on October 3. The practice matches are expected to contribute to the development of local cricket, promote sports tourism, and strengthen Pokhara’s position as an international sports destination.
“These practice matches will be significant in further strengthening the relationship between Pokhara’s cricket infrastructure, sporting activities, and tourism,” Sigdel said.
According to the schedule, Bhutan will play two practice matches against the Gandaki Province cricket team on September 27 and 28, followed by matches against CAN-11 on September 30 and October 1. All four matches will be played at the Pokhara cricket ground.
The first match between Bhutan and Gandaki Province, scheduled for September 27 at the Pokhara cricket ground, will coincide with World Tourism Day and is being viewed as an opportunity to strengthen the connection between cricket and tourism.
Suman Raj Karki, secretary of the Gandaki Provincial Cricket Association, said the association has set a long-term goal of developing Pokhara into a hub for national and international cricket activities.
“We believe that the Bhutanese national team’s visit to Pokhara will contribute to promoting sports tourism, expanding international sports relations, and further strengthening Pokhara’s national and international profile. This will create an environment conducive to the regular hosting of national and international cricket events,” Karki said.
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