Here's how the former Indian captain reacted to Nepal earning an ODI status.
Nepal cricketers' week just got better as they were in for some high praise by former Indian captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni.
Nepal created history on Thursday as its cricket team achieved One-Day International (ODI) status for the very first time. A win against Papua New Guinea (PNG) in the 2018 ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Harare got them there.
Dhoni attributed the achievement to the sheer hard work put in by the Nepalese over the years.
“It’s (ODI status) a result of their hard-work and sincere effort. I don’t think that participation of small teams will dilute the standard of cricket the world over,” Dhoni was quoted as saying by Hindustan Times.
"To make cricket a global sport, I believe more and more such teams must come into fray, and it is good that Associate nations are trying to gain ICC’s ODI status,” he added. "Consistency is important and that’s why teams like UAE after playing some good cricket for a good time period, lost their way.”
Nepal were locked in a three-way battle with Honk Kong and PNG to secure the final spot in the list of countries with an ODI status. The Nepalese made the cut after defeating PNG in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers at the Old Hararians Sports Club on Thursday.
Batting first, PNG were bowled out for a meagre 114, with Sandeep Lamichhane and Dipendra Singh Airee picking four wickets each. Nepal got to the target for the loss of four wickets in 23 overs. Dipendra made a healthy contribution with the bat too, slamming an unbeaten 50 to take his side home.
The result meant PNG's ODI status was taken away from them and claimed by Nepal.
Nepal captain Paras Khadka was understandably ecstatic after his team's triumph. He soon took to Twitter to thank ardent fans for their support.
"Thank you everyone for the support..Just been years and years of toil, persistence, sacrifices, commitment and hardwork..Finally WE BECOME An ODI nation.. Congratulations to everyone who has been part of Nepal cricket's incredible journey .. God Bless," he wrote.
Khadka also insisted that proper management was utmost important for Nepalese cricket going forward.
“We need to have a proper management, it is as simple as that. If we can get a proper system and management back at home, cricket is going to prosper. No matter what happens with Nepal cricket, we need a proper management to lead the way forward,” Khadka was quoted as saying by The National.
“As players, we are pushing ourselves, and whatever happens outside we have always known that if we do well on the field, we can hopefully reach somewhere like that. Over the years we have played good cricket. Once we missed out on the Super Six and qualification was out of our hands, we knew we had to focus on ODI status,” he added.
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
 "MS Dhoni")
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
)
)
)
)
)
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}
){kind=small}