Details of the national Jai Trophy hasn't been announced yet but there is a greater possibility of change in its structure. Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) officials are discussing it and the members of the cricket governing body of the Kingdom are assured that the structure of the Jai Trophy would be changed next year, if not this year.

The next time we see the Jai Trophy it could be a region vs region competition. The district, zone and regional level selection tournaments would be part of it; so the tournament which has lasted nearly two decades would be probably longer spread over two months and the final stage would probably be played as a day or two day match.

The third edition of the East West Trophy, back after a silence of two years, has come up with an Indian sponsor, BDM, and the highest prizemoney. The winner of the East West BDM Trophy will receive a cheque of 25,000 rupees while the runner-up will pocket 15,000.

The tournament is being contested by 13 teams, including those from outside the valley. Suresh Khatri, the owner of East-West Overseas, said he had the moral support from CAN and wished to prepare quality Nepalese players. "Maybe we can see Nepal playing in the 2007 World Cup," said Suresh.

The sponsor stands a chance of winning its own tournament after East West CC thumped Baluwatar to join Yeti Airways and Dharan CC as known semifinalists at the time of submitting this report.

Baluwatar, despite possessing three of Nepal's squad soon to leave for New Zealand to contest the Under 19 World Cup, crashed to be all-out for 86 in 26.4 overs. Parmesh Gurung (18) was the top scorer off the bat for Baluwatar with 21 extras the main contributor. East-West Airways raced to victory in just 15 overs.

Yeti Airways entered the semifinals after crushing Baneshwor CC by five wickets in the second semi-final.

A good all-round performance (25 and 3 wickets) from Man of of the Match Baral was not enough for Baneshwor which crumbled to 116 all-out. Baral (25 from 32 balls including three fours and a six) was aided in the Baneshwor innings by a breezy innings from Shreekhanda Dhungana who hit 28 runs from 47 balls. Again, extras where the highest scorer with a total of 29.

Amit Jaiswal was the pick of the Yeti bowlers with three wickets for 10 runs during his 4.2 over spell.

National player, Dipendra Chaudhary, top scored for Yeti Airways smashing 39 from 33 balls, including eight boundaries. He was aided by Jaiswal who struck six fours in his innings of 27 runs from 31 balls.

Dharan CC's semi-final entrance into the semi-finals could not have been more startling with a monstrous 195 run win over Kathmandu Khel Mandal.

Manoj Sood let the way, with a scintillating innings of 102 runs from 72 balls featuring 10 fours and three sixes. Sood was aided by Rocky Maskey in a second wicket partnership of 108. Dharan had lost national team opener Kiran Agrawal with the team total on 21.

Sood also dominated a 74 run third wicket partnership with Ratan Rauniyar on course to Dharan's 227-6 from its allotted 35 overs.

Man of the Match, Sood, again made an impact during the KKM innings taking 3-16 in 3.3 overs.

His opening bowling partner, and team opener, Kiran Agrawal, gutted the KKM bowling with 6-13 in a four over spell as KKM collapsed to 32 all-out in 7.3 overs.

What is more sobering was that half that total was 'gifted' by Dharan in the form of extras. Two batsmen 'top scored' for KKM with four.

Suresh is also set to run a school level tournament in the Valley in association with the CAN. The tournament would be taken as the selection competition for the next Under 15 Asia Cup. CAN treasurer, Shashi Datta Pandey, confirmed that the tournament is recognised and that CAN will provide the techinical support and the international ground at Kirtipur.

Jawalakhel Youth Cup is also running a tournament in St.Xaviers Ground in Lalitpur. The tournament was founded in memory of the club's cricket player, Suman Rijal, who was killed in a road accident. Eight teams are participating in the tournament which will be played on a knockout basis. Jawalakhel Youth Club (JYC) posted a comprehensive 122-run victory over JYC Veteran in the opener of the Suman Rijal Memorial cricket trophy on Monday.

Winning the toss JYC elected to bat first and posted a huge total of 203 for the loss of eight wickets in 35 overs. Nirajit Rimal scored 68 off 81 balls with the help of nine perfectly timed boundaries. Besides Rimal, Bhusan Bajracharya and Adesh Prajapati scored 29 and 27 runs respectively in the later part of the innings. Sushil Chaugain and Ritesh Shrestha picked three wickets apiece for the veterans.

In reply, the Veteran's batting faltered as they managed 82 runs losing all their wickets in 16.4 overs. Hitesh Bista topscored with 24 runs. Pratik Pradhan clinched four wickets in his six-over spell conceding 35 runs while Sanju Bista claimed three wickets.

The other popular tournament in the Kathmandu Valley, organised by the Everest Cricket Academy, is set to start its third year with a new name. Previously known as the "Birthday Cup" to mark the birthday of Late King Birendra would now be known as the Birendra Memorial.

National coach, Arun Aryal, who is also in the organising body, expected that 12 teams will take part in the tournament. Apart from these, a few club level tournaments are being run in the country.

The Asian Cricket Council's Regional Development Officer, Rumesh Ratnayake and coach, Roy Dias, both appointed by the ACC have travelled around the cricketing centres of the country and given coaching clinics for the players.

Dias to due to coach the Under 19 team set to take part in the Under 19 World Cup in New Zealand but got the break as the team travelled to Indore in India for match practice, where they gained invaluable experience, despite losing two of four matches against local opposition.

The Under 19 team won and lost a match each against Bhopal Academy 'A', while winning against Daly College and losing to an Indore XI.

Nepal Under 19s won their opening match of the mini-tour against Bhopal Academy 'A' by four wickets, with Yashwant Subedi starring (49) with the bat, while Shakti Gauchan stood out with the ball with three wickets.

Poor batting plagued Nepal Under 19s in their second match, losing to Bhopal Academy 'A' by six wickets. Shakti Gauchan top scored with 20. Basant Regmi (three) was the chief wicket-taker for Nepal while captain Binod Das took two.

Nepal's batting woes continued in the third match managing only 140 replying to an Indore XI's 253. Munk Shreshta struck 39 while Shankti Gauchan again stood out with 29.

Himalayan confidence was repaired to some degree in the final match with a six wicket victory over Daly College. Yashwant Subedi (27) and Munik Shrestha (20) again underlined their consistency.

The squad is: Nepal: Binod Kumar Das (captain), Bardan Chalise (vice-captain), Lakpa Lama, Manoj Katuwal, Shakti Gauchan, Basanta Regmi, Basudev Thapa, Pramod Basnet, Kaniska Chaugain, Sanjam Regmi, Prem Chaudhary, Rohit Sharma, Yaswant Subedi and Manjit Shrestha.

© ICC 2002