Nepali sports has been embroiled in the dispute between Paudel and NSC Member Secretary Yubaraj Lama soon after the sports minister sacked the head of the sports governing body on May 16 following a change in the government. The supreme court later issued a stay order and reinstated Lama along with five other sacked NSC members. But both the parties were at loggerheads as Paudel formed an Asian Games preparation committee under Nepal Basketball Association president Lama Tendi Sherpa even though a Lama-led preparation committee was already in existence.

Both the NSC and ministry are preparing for two separate contingent — numbers of players and sports disciplines — for the Asiad rendering confusing amongst the players and officials. In a recent press conference on July 24, the member secretary termed the minister’s move illegal and threatened to take the matter to his party — UCPN Maoists — if the move persists.

Paudel on Tuesday claimed his move was for the well being of Nepali sports and was ready to discuss the matter if there are mistakes. “Our only aim is to assure a smooth participation for the players in the Asian Games,” Paudel said after bidding farewell to the chess players leaving for 41st Chess Olympiad.

“If there is any problem, we can solve it by discussions,” said the minister adding there have been mistakes made by both the sides. “After the Supreme Court issued stay order to relieve Lama off his duties, NSC did not even thought it important to inform the ministry about the reinstatement,” added Paudel. “Our decision to challenge the court decision and move ahead also played a part in the dispute. We can sit together and have a discussion on the Asian Games preparation with NSC,” said Paudel.

Cricket’s deadlock to continue

The existing deadlock in Nepali cricket is certain to stay for at least three more months with the government seeking legal remedy in dissolving the current committee of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) and form a new ones.

Nepali cricket has been in turmoil after a majority of CAN top brass were charge-sheeted for alleged corruption in the construction of Mulpani Cricket Stadium.

While the corruption-charged officials — including president Tanka Aangbuhang — have already given up their responsibilities for time being on moral grounds, CAN has been hit hard by budget crunch after the International Cricket Council (ICC) and Asian Cricket Council (ACC) have stopped sending funds for the last 10 months.

The sorry state of the cricket governing body led CAN to relieve coach Pubudu Dassanayake off his duties after his contract expired on June 30, while it recently hand-picked preliminary squads for Asian Games and ACC U-16 Elite without holding selection tournaments.

After the Commission for Investigation of Abuse of Authority (CIAA) recommended the government to ditch the entire 31-member committee, concluding it to be ineligible to run cricket, and bring a new one, the Youth and Sports Ministry has already moved forward to find a solution. However with legal complications on the other side, the deadlock in cricket still exists.

Youth and Sports Minister Purushottam Paudel said the government try to resolve the crisis by amending the bylaws itself. “Cricket is stuck and the deadlock will be broken but there are legal complications. The government will take time to play it safe in terms of its bylaws and make sure that cricket moves ahead in positive direction,” said Paudel.

“The international governing bodies (ACC and ICC) are pretty concerned that if a new body is formed it doesn’t face any charge in the court,” added Paudel. “We need to take some time if we move according to the international rules and regulations. The existing laws won’t allow us to remove an elected body. So we will bring a new law for cricket through parliament and pass the bill,” added Paudel.

“If we take to the fast track parliament then it will take a maximum of three months to have a new board at its place. The government is just trying to make sure that things don’t get worst from where it is now,” the minister said.