Kathmandu : Mayor Balen Shah of Kathmandu Metropolitan City has stated that the government has provided land, and the metropolitan city will take the lead in building a cricket stadium.
In a Facebook post, Balen, who recently witnessed the Nepal vs. India cricket match in the Asia Cup held in Sri Lanka, mentioned, “If the Nepali government provides 100 ropanis (approximately 5 acres) of land around Kathmandu Metropolitan City, we will take the initiative to build a stadium.”
Although Nepal and India’s cricket matches have been played at Tribhuvan University’s cricket stadium, Balen noted that despite the limited facilities, the matches have been successful. He mentioned that apart from the cricket field, a stadium with similar amenities like a playground and more could be constructed within a budget of NPR 8-9 billion.
He stated, “Not only can this type of stadium accommodate various sports, but it can also generate revenue in the billions from a single sport.”
Balen has previously ensured provisions for practice nets in every ward within three years to facilitate training for athletes and players at the grassroots level.
He expressed amazement at the sight of Nepali supporters in Sri Lanka for the cricket match and said, “So many Nepalis came to Sri Lanka for a single match?”
He mentioned that the stadium had around 1,500 Nepali supporters and around 40-50 Indian supporters.
Balen noted that playing with Nepal was easier for India, and it had been an enriching experience for Indian players. He added that Nepal’s fans made the trip to Sri Lanka a memorable one.