With Nepal’s historic game against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) at the Lord’s looming, the Nepali community in London is gearing up for the game here.

Nepal are playing a 50-over friendly match against the world’s oldest club on July 19 in a game that will mark the 200-year bilateral relationship between Nepal and the United Kingdom. “We are eager to welcome the Nepali team. Its a matter of pride for us and a chance to do something for the country,” said Sarala Paudel who has already bought a match ticket and Nepali jersey for the match.

The Nepali community is working to draw around 10,000 fans for the game. Hosts MCC has also prepared to bring spectators from the English, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Indian communities. Embassy of Nepal, Non-Resident Nepalese Association, Nepal Tourism Board in UK are helping organisers in making the event a big success.

“We want to celebrate the event as a cultural festival and have requested the Nepalese in London to cheer our team with attires and musical instruments that reflect our culture,” said Tej Bahadur Chhetri, Nepal’s acting ambassador to UK.

The Nepali team, led by Paras Khadka, is scheduled to arrive in London on July 11. Ahead of the game, Nepal are also scheduled to play four matches against local clubs. Prashant Kunwar, a Nepali youth in London who is looking after the publicity of the event, informed that MCC has named Somerset allrounder Keith Dutch as their captain.

Several other organisations are also preparing to felicitate Nepali cricket team for its recent achievements at the international stage. MCC has already declared to give away 50 percent revenue collected from tickets sales for Nepal’s post-Great Quake rebuilding, while the rest of the amount will be invested in the Nepal’s cricket development.

MCC has already visited the Himalayan nation twice. It played six matches in Nepal in its last visit in November. MCC also provided scholarships under the Young Cricketers’ Programme to two Nepali cricketers—Naresh Budhayer and Rajesh Pulami Magar—in 2013. National team skipper Khadka also played for MCC in the Emirates Twenty20 Tournament in Dubai in 2015.'