Why Is the APF Team, Loaded with Star Players, Struggling?
The Armed Police Force (APF) club, led by national team captain Rohit Paudel and other prominent players, has failed to deliver a strong performance in the Prime Minister’s Cup One-Day Cricket Tournament. APF has lost four out of five matches in the competition. Captain Rohit Paudel has managed to score only 49 runs in these five games. Bowlers Nandan Yadav and Avinash Bohara have had limited opportunities.
Kathmandu, 18 Chaitra: Despite being considered a strong domestic team with former national players, the APF club has been experiencing consecutive defeats in the Prime Minister’s Cup one-day cricket competition. In Wednesday’s match held in Birgunj, APF was defeated by Lumbini Province. Chasing a target of 125 runs set by APF, Lumbini was all out for 124 runs, taking the game into a super over. In the super over, APF managed just six runs while chasing a target of 15, resulting in defeat.
National team players including captain Rohit Paudel, Lokesh Bam, and Sandeep Jora struggled against the bowling of 19-year-old youngster Santosh Yadav. Despite the presence of national players, APF has been unable to maintain consistent form in the ongoing PM Cup tournament.
APF started well by defeating Bagmati Province by 71 runs in their opening match, but suffered a heavy 185-run loss against Nepal Police Club in their second game. The third match was abandoned due to rain, and APF lost the fourth and fifth matches against provincial teams.
Departmental teams usually dominate domestic cricket, often winning titles across various tournaments. Provincial teams have found it challenging to compete with these departments. However, APF has been consecutively defeated by provincial teams. They lost to Gandaki Province by 43 runs and were also defeated by Lumbini in the super over.
The APF squad includes national team players such as captain Rohit Paudel, openers Asif Sheikh, Sandeep Jora, Lokesh Bam, and bowlers Nandan Yadav, Avinash Bohara, and Kamal Singh Airi. Despite these strengths, the team is losing to provincial sides and most players have yet to find their rhythm after five matches. Opener Asif Sheikh scored a century in the first game but has since been inconsistent, failing to score more than 21 runs in any subsequent match. Captain Rohit has totaled only 49 runs across five games. Although he has taken seven wickets, the team’s overall bowling performance remains below expectations. Sandeep Jora and Lokesh Bam have also underperformed. Sandeep managed a half-century in the first match but has been disappointing afterward, scoring 112 runs in five matches. Lokesh has scored only 60 runs. Bowlers Nandan Yadav and Avinash Bohara have had limited chances; Nandan has claimed two wickets and conceded 49 runs in two games, while Avinash took three wickets in three matches. Kamal Singh Airi has taken four wickets and scored 66 runs over five games. Young bowlers Yuvraj Khatri and Abhishek Gautam have also not made significant impact, with Yuvraj taking five wickets and Abhishek six wickets, yet both are struggling to find consistent form. This lack of rhythm across players is a key reason behind APF’s string of defeats.
APF’s performance has continuously declined in the Prime Minister’s Cup. Under the captaincy of Rohit Paudel, who took over in 2024, the team’s form has weakened. In the 2024 season, APF finished fifth, while in the previous edition, they had secured third place. This season similarly has not started well for them.
APF had won the title successfully in 2022 by defeating Tribhuvan Army Club in the final. They beat Army in 2021 and were eliminated in the semifinals in 2019. APF were champions in 2018 after reaching the semifinals in 2017. Past captains include Gyanendra Malla (2017), Basanta Regmi (2018 and 2019), and Sharad (2021 and 2022). Rohit Paudel has been leading the squad since then.