Nepal Coach Stresses Need for Sustained Pressure to Elevate Cricket Standards
Nepal head coach Nick Pothas has issued a strong call for sustained pressure on players as a crucial element for the team's meaningful progress. Speaking ahead of Nepal's final ICC Men's T20 World Cup group fixture against Scotland on Tuesday, Pothas emphasized the necessity of eliminating repeated mistakes to foster improvement.
Campaign Highlights and Struggles
Nepal's tournament began with a promising performance, pushing England to a last-ball finish in a narrow defeat that showcased their potential. However, the campaign quickly lost momentum with comprehensive losses to Italy and the West Indies by 10 and nine wickets respectively, highlighting inconsistencies in their gameplay.
Pothas on Infrastructure and Player Development
"If we're going to improve Nepal cricket, we need to have an infrastructure below. Teams only get better when there's pressure on players to perform," Pothas stated. He expressed uncertainty about the existing setup in Nepal but stressed that players must feel under pressure to perform for cricket to advance.
He acknowledged the squad's talent but pointed out that their development as a unit has been too slow. "Unfortunately, what we aren't doing is we're not learning fast enough as a group. Leading into the Scotland game, all we want to see guys do is compete, but not make the same errors we're making repeatedly. That's the important part," Pothas added.
Passion and Fan Support
Pothas highlighted the team's energetic and passionate nature, along with their great following. "We're a very energetic side, a very passionate side with a great following that have come to watch us play so we'd like to give that following something to remember this World Cup by," he noted, underscoring the desire to deliver a memorable performance.
Challenges with Exposure and Conditions
The coach pointed out that limited exposure to diverse conditions and elite opposition has hindered growth. "For these players, a lot of their cricket is played in Nepal where the wickets suit their style of play… When you come to a World Cup, you don't get away with that kind of thing," Pothas explained, indicating the need for broader experience.
Structural Discussions and Domestic Base
Pothas conceded that structural discussions with Cricket Association of Nepal secretary Paras Khadka are essential to strengthen the domestic base, a key step in building a more robust cricket framework for future success.
Scotland's Perspective on Associate Teams
Scotland batter Tom Bruce echoed the challenges facing Associate teams, emphasizing the high stakes of World Cup play. "You're only playing four games in a World Cup. You've got to be at your very best every single time," he said. Bruce added that more fixtures against top-tier nations would be "brilliant" for the game's growth, highlighting a common need among emerging cricketing nations.
As Nepal prepares for their crucial match against Scotland, the focus remains on applying pressure, learning from errors, and leveraging their passion to make a lasting impact in the tournament and beyond.
