The International Cricket Council (ICC) has lifted its controlled funding of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).

The international cricket governing body had been providing controlled funds to CAN since October 2019, a month after the current executive committee under Chatur Bahadur Chand was elected to lead the cricket governing body.

According to a release issued by CAN on Tuesday, the ICC lifted the controlled funding of the cricket governing body of the country after the latter fulfilled all requirements set by the apex international cricket body and maintained transparency.

“Now CAN will get as much funding as any other One-Day International (ODI) associate members and will be eligible to do their financial transaction independently,” reads a statement released by CAN.

Under the controlled funding, CAN was required to send their plans, programmes and budget proposal to the ICC in advance which was subject to mandatory approval from the Dubai-based international body to have their fund released.

“It is a matter of pride for us that the controlled funding has been lifted by the ICC. It not just came overnight but it’s a result of our effort to maintain transparency and result of the good governance after we were elected in 2019,” said CAN president Chatur Bahadur Chand, who is currently in the US along with treasurer Roshan Bahadur Singh for Nepal’s US Triangular Series of the ICC World Cup League 2 being held in Houston.

“Now we will be able to make our plans and policies as per our requirement.”

The ICC had suspended CAN in April 2016 citing dual existence of the cricket governing body in Nepal, government interference in the election and financial issues.

National Sports Council, the country’s main sports governing body, had refused to give legitimacy to the new body, under the current President Chand, which was formed on December 15, 2015, following a controversial mid-night election that was not contested by then CAN president Aangbuhang and his faction.

The Sports Council, in February, had formed an ad-hoc committee under Ramesh Silwal which prompted the ICC to suspend CAN.

Later, the ICC had formed an advisory committee in 2016 entrusting it with the responsibility of drafting a new statute of Nepal’s cricket governing body and facilitating a fresh election.

The new statute was unanimously approved by CAN in April 2018. The ICC had formed the Independent Committee in July last year and was tasked with overseeing the elections of districts and provinces under the newly adopted statute.

The election process of districts and provinces concluded earlier this month.

The ICC and National Sports Council had jointly announced the date of the election on September 15 which elected a new 17-member executive committee under Chand in September 2019.