Cricket Association of Nepal has appointed Gyanendra Malla as the skipper of men’s senior cricket team.

Ashok Nath Pyakurel, secretary at the Association, confirmed Malla’s appointment as the new captain after the resignation of Paras Khadka two weeks ago.

Khadka stepped down as the national team captain on October 15 after leading the team for a decade. Khadka’s resignation came a day after the International Cricket Council lifted the suspension on Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the national cricket governing body.

Malla served as the vice-captain under Khadka for 10 years.

“Malla will lead the national cricket team until further notice,” said Pyakurel.

Meanwhile, CAN has appointed Dipendra Singh Airee the new vice-captain.

The 29-year-old right-handed batsman will lead Nepal at the upcoming series against the Marylebone Cricket Club and the South Asian Games set to be hosted by Nepal from December 1 to 10 in Kathmandu and Pokhara. Nepal, as the other non-Test playing nations, will field their senior squad at the Games while the Test playing nations will send their Under-23 squads.

“It is a very proud moment for me to be given such an opportunity. Along with the new responsibility, I also feel the challenge to take Nepali cricket forward,” Malla told the Post over the phone after his appointment.

Malla was appointed vice-captain in 2009 just when Khadka was named the captain.

“Being named the full captain and assuming the role as a part-time captain are completely two different ball games,” said Malla. “Khadka is already a legendary captain. I have too big shoes to fill in.”

The senior men's team is scheduled to play a 50-over match against the MCC on November 4 at the Tribhuvan University ground in Kirtipur. A three-day match, recognised as first-class, will then be played beginning November 6 while a Twenty20 match of the mixed team including the senior and Under-19 players is scheduled for November 9.

Malla played his debut match against Namibia in 2006. He has played the role of stand-in captain on several occasions in the past whenever Khadka was absent in the field, primarily due to injuries. The new captain has also led several teams in the domestic cricket tournaments.

Malla is one of the seven cricketers to have scored a century for Nepal in international cricket. In 2014, Malla played one of his memorable innings in Malaysia in the ICC World Cricket League Division 3 when he scored 114 against Singapore. He also holds the record for Nepal's fastest half-century in Twenty20 cricket. He amassed 51 runs off 21 balls against Malaysia at the ICC World T20 Asia Regional Final Qualifiers in Singapore in July earlier this year.

Former skipper Khadka took to Twitter on Wednesday afternoon to congratulate the new captain.

“Congratulations to the most deserving person @gyanu_gm11 on being appointed as the Captain of the Nepal Cricket Team. One who has served the country with great passion, discipline and commitment. I am very sure we will prosper under his leadership to new heights,” Khadka tweeted.