Nepal's cricket captain Paras Khadka shares his cricket anecdotes unfolding the team's triumphant and magnificent route to ODI status with ICC.

Khadka views, the achievement they own today to be a long, amazing journey for Nepal cricket. He terms their first ever One-Day Internationals against the Netherlands is to be only the beginning.

"We have always wanted to get to this point but the challenge is to keep on growing. Eight years ago we were playing in ICC World Cricket League Division Five and now we are among the top 16 nations in the world, with ODI status guaranteed for the next four years." Khadka said.

He hopes to have consistence in his team's performance to have ambitious Test-playing country. He believes their first ever ODI match against the Netherlands to be an opportunity to explore, enjoy and experience real test of cricket.

Captain Khadka unfolds his remories of cricket, "It is amazing to think back to how far we have come. Speaking personally, I started playing the game very young at school in Kathmandu. I played all the time – football in the rainy season and cricket the rest of the time."

He never dreamed at that stage that he could play for his country. But it was only when he was selected at under-15 level that things started to change.

Then Nepal played at the ICC Under-19 World Cup – beating South Africa twice, New Zealand and Zimbabwe – and have played against some of the best players around from the other nations.

His one of the happiest days since then was the day – 27 November 2013 – when we beat Hong Kong off the last ball to qualify for the 2014 ICC World T20 in Bangladesh.

"I remember feeling very nervous. You have dreamed all these years and then it’s there in front of you. Three and a half hours away. You can make the biggest step in your cricket careers. It did take a lot out of us. We played some of our best cricket during those three matches at the ICC World T20, against Hong Kong again, Afghanistan and Bangladesh." he said.

Then this year qualifying from ICC World Cricket League Division-2 in Namibia and making it to the ICC World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe was another special moment to him. "Those are the high points. This year has been so important for my generation of cricketers because we have worked so hard to get to this point." Khadka said.

He recognizes his team's fantastic team spirit to be a big plus point for them. His team fight for every run and every wicket. Everyone in team is very honest and hard-working. He knows that someone out there is looking after them.

He hails their amazing fan following that they come out in big numbers to support them around the globe with it they are very blessed which really boost them up.

"We really noticed that support when we played at Lord’s for the first time in 2016. I woke up the next morning and thought to myself, ‘Did we actually just play at Lord’s?’ To be in a dressing room where every great in the game has been was an amazing experience. We were so glad we could repeat it again this week in a T20 tri-series with MCC and Netherlands." he shared.

He reveals that they are already looking ahead to the qualifying stages for the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023. He appreciates the government in Nepal that is looking to help them grow. He also hopes to have a fully functioning cricket board soon. 

"I’ve been playing for 15 years and I never thought I’d get this far. But there will come a time when it is enough – it might be in six months or six years. But for now, I want to contribute as much as possible and keep pushing myself. It all comes down to setting standards and taking it from there." Khadka said.

This news story is prepared with the help of ICC Media feature.