Expanding the Scope of the Jai Trophy Is Essential: How Ready Is CAN?

March 19, Kathmandu – Nepal’s only multi-day cricket competition, the Jai Trophy, concluded on Thursday. The tournament featuring the top four teams from the PM Cup saw Nepal Police Club successfully defend their title.

Most players from Nepal’s national cricket team participated in the Jai Trophy. The experience gained in the tournament, which is considered crucial for developing proficiency in the longer format of the game, helps players enhance their performance capabilities in both one-day and multi-day formats.

There is growing demand to expand the Jai Trophy’s scope by increasing the number of participating teams and to organize at least two to three multi-day tournaments in the near future.

Players and cricket analysts emphasize that multi-day cricket not only sharpens skill development but also helps players adapt to the longer formats.

Furthermore, players are calling for the tournament duration to be extended from two days to at least three days.

Another domestic tournament, the Prime Minister’s Cup (PM Cup), which is also a one-day format competition, is scheduled to begin soon. This competition will also support Nepal’s preparation for the upcoming ICC Cricket World Cup League 2.

Increasing the scale and frequency of domestic tournaments like the PM Cup and Jai Trophy is expected to make a significant contribution to the sustainable growth of Nepali cricket.

The annual calendar published by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) does not include any major long-format tournaments after the PM Cup.

With a heavier focus on the T20 format, the limited domestic competitions could impede Nepal’s progression towards achieving Test status, as such formats do not adequately prepare the team for the demands of longer format cricket.

What Are the Criteria for Test Status?

Currently, the Jai Trophy is Nepal’s only multi-day cricket tournament. It features four teams competing in a two-day format, with the final generally extended to three days.

The limitation of having only four teams and a two-day match format means this tournament offers only minimal progress toward Nepal’s goal of achieving Test status.

Two years ago, CAN Secretary Paras Khadka stated the ambition for Nepal to become a Test nation within ten years. Similarly, the ICC’s annual conference has also expressed confidence that Nepal will soon achieve Test status.

Despite repeated declarations of this goal, there has been little concrete progress so far. Secretary Khadka mentioned that after two tournament seasons, positive feedback has emerged and that prioritizing red-ball cricket is intended to develop proficiency in the longer format.

“Completing two editions, we have received encouraging feedback from players. Full membership and Test status are our aspirations. We cannot pinpoint exactly when we will achieve Test status, but we have prioritized red-ball format because it helps in player and skill development,” Khadka said.

“Until now, red-ball cricket has proven effective in improving players’ skills across proper ODI, domestic, and cricketing setups, which is why we have given it prominence,” he added.

To realize the dream of Test accreditation, structural development of red-ball cricket in Nepal is essential. Regular multi-day tournaments would enable players to master this format.

What Do the Players Say?

As discussions on long-format cricket development continue, players also advocate for more competitions like the Jai Trophy.

Sompal Kami of Tribhuvan Army Club, who finished as runner-up in the Jai Trophy, stressed the need for additional tournaments. “There need to be more tournaments like the Jai Trophy. These help test the abilities of both batsmen and bowlers,” he said after the final.

CAN Secretary Khadka mentioned plans to broaden the competition’s scope in the future, with efforts underway to organize matches at the provincial level and secure the necessary budgets. “Based on feedback from two seasons, we will expand the upcoming edition,” he said.

Players praised the pitch used in the competition as excellent. Sompal described it as challenging for both batting and bowling. “When pitches are like this, Nepali cricket will improve,” he added.

Police captain Arif Sheikh also said the pitch provided a balanced challenge for batting and bowling. “The wickets should be of such type that test temperament, fitness, and patience,” he emphasized.

Arif suggested that if a three-day competition is organized, games should be played fully over all three days, and players must adapt to match situations. He stressed that teams should avoid being all out too quickly before the scheduled end of the match.

Players have reported that the competition greatly assisted their preparations and boosted their confidence for upcoming matches.

What’s Next on the Schedule?

Due to last year’s focus on the T20 World Cup, the Nepalese cricket team was heavily engaged in T20 cricket, but appears set to shift focus toward the longer format this year.

Following the World Cup, Nepali players who participated in the Jai Trophy were scheduled to play an ODI series for the Cricket World Cup League 2 at home, but the series has been postponed due to tensions in the Middle East.

Although the rescheduled date for the series is uncertain, the ODI-format PM Cup starting Sunday will serve as valuable preparation.

In addition, the ACC Premier Cup and bilateral series are planned. After these, players will again predominantly feature in T20 competitions.

Therefore, it appears that domestic longer-format competitions will remain limited for at least another year. According to CAN Secretary Khadka, if the Jai Trophy is expanded in the upcoming editions, the tournament duration will be longer and more teams will gain multi-day cricket experience.