The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup trophy arrived in Nepal on Monday as part of its global tour and was unveiled at a special ceremony held at the Presidential Residence, Sheetal Niwas. President Ramchandra Paudel and Nepal national team captain Rohit Kumar Paudel jointly unveiled the trophy.
Calling the occasion a proud moment for the nation, President Paudel said the trophy’s arrival sends a message to the world that Nepal is steadily emerging as a centre of global cricket. He noted that cricket has played a significant role in uniting the country and is helping create opportunities for Nepali youth through its professional growth.
“Nepal is now firmly establishing itself as a sports-loving nation. With the development of infrastructure and increasing opportunities, the foundation for a brighter future in sports is becoming stronger,” the President said. He also thanked the International Cricket Council (ICC) for bringing the trophy to Nepal, saying it has boosted the confidence of Nepali cricket and its supporters.
The ceremony was attended by Cricket Association of Nepal president Chatur Bahadur Chand, national men’s team coach Stuart Law, national women’s team captain Indu Barma, vice-captain Puja Mahato, and women’s team coach Harshal Patel.
President Paudel extended his best wishes to both the men’s and women’s national teams. Nepal is set to host the Women’s T20 World Cup Global Qualifier, while the senior men’s team will participate in the T20 World Cup for the third time. The tournament will be jointly hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with Nepal placed in Group D alongside England, Bangladesh, West Indies and Italy. All of Nepal’s matches will be played in Mumbai.
The trophy will remain in Nepal for three days. On 6 January, it will be taken to Pokhara and later displayed at Basantapur Durbar Square in Kathmandu. On 7 January, it will be showcased at Baudha Nath Stupa. Earlier, the ODI World Cup trophy had also toured Nepal.
Meanwhile, the official T20 World Cup jerseys of Nepal’s men’s and women’s teams were unveiled in Kathmandu. During the event, Bhat-Bhateni Supermarket honoured both squads and announced that the jerseys, including a fan edition, will be available at its outlets and online store.
