Dias speaks his best, worst in Nepal

REPUBLICA

KATHMANDU, Dec 10: Cricket coach Roy Luke Dias is leaving Nepal next week as his nine-year long career in Nepal ends in December.

Roy, who was the coach for the Sri Lankan national team during the 1999 world cup, surprised world cricket fraternity by taking charge of Nepal team in 2001.

Then, the former Sri Lankan batsman Dias guided Nepali Cricket and won several age-group tournaments and few senior level tournaments for the country. Dias always regarded Nepal to be his second home.

Recently, some Nepali cricket reporters met Dias at the Hotel Annapurna and talked about his experience in Nepal. Here is an excerpt of some rapid-fire questions and answers:

Best Player: Paras Khadka
Impressive Player: Gyanendra Malla
Best Youth Player: Prithu Baskota
Best Captain: Paras Khadka
Best Fielder: Gyanendra Malla
Best wicketkeeper: Mahesh Chhetri
Best woman cricketer: Neera Rajopadhyay (best batswoman)
Best innings by Nepali batsman: Mehboob Alam (108 runs against Malaysia in ACC Fast Track Countries Three Day Tournament in 2006 at the TU Cricket Ground)
Best innings by Nepali bowler: Mehboob Alam (10 wickets against Mozambique in ICC Division-5 Tournament, 2008 in Jersey)
Most memorable match: Final match against the US in World Cricket League Division-5, 2010 that we won.
Most forgettable match: World Cricket League Division-4 match against Tanzania as it cut short my stay in Nepal
Best Assistant Coach: Jagat Tamata
Coach to lead Nepali cricket in future: Jagat Tamata
Best administrator: Binay Raj Pandey (President, Cricket Association of Nepal)
Best personality (out of cricket): Paras Rana (Executive manager, Hotel Annapurna)