Nepal's captain Rohit Paudel previews their must-win ICC T20 Cricket World Cup clash with Sri Lanka
Central Broward Regional Park, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
Central Broward Regional Park, Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
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00:00 How does that sound? Alright. I think we'll just have to start guys.
00:04 So we've got the Nepal captain Rohit Pardal here. He's gonna have to hold the mic so you have to speak quite loudly, okay?
00:11 Hi, I am Durga from Nepal TV. Are you okay if we do this in our language?
00:22 Okay. So let me allow those who ask in English so that we can go in our language.
00:30 Good luck tomorrow Rohit. First of all, it's a bit of a stretch between your first game and your second game.
00:39 You got basically a week off. How's it been sort of taking in the atmosphere of a T20 World Cup and getting ready for Sri Lanka tomorrow?
00:47 Thank you. I think the gap is very good especially to prepare ourselves, especially after we lost against Netherlands.
00:56 So I think that gap is very helpful for us, especially to prepare and adapt to this situation.
01:04 And I believe that we have utilized three, four death sessions here and we are very well prepared for tomorrow's game.
01:11 And looking at maybe some of the other results we've had so far, the tournament associate teams have come up and performed admirably against full member opposition.
01:20 There's a great opportunity here for you guys in a new venue, the first match here in Florida, targeting a victory here in your second game.
01:28 Yeah, what do you look at in tomorrow's fixture and how do you think you can beat Sri Lanka tomorrow?
01:34 Yeah, absolutely. If you see in this World Cup, you'll see that associate team beating test playing countries.
01:39 So it is a motivation for all of us, especially moving forward to tomorrow's game.
01:45 So as a team, we believe that we are going to win tomorrow.
01:49 And the way we have been preparing for the last couple of months and the way we have been playing for cricket for the last one and a half years,
01:55 I think the belief is always there in the team and we are looking forward to tomorrow's game.
02:01 I might just swap the mics over there.
02:04 Cool. Just one more as well on your opposition. Can you talk a little bit about playing Sri Lanka tomorrow, what they make as an opposition, their threats?
02:17 Yeah, absolutely. I think basically Sri Lanka have very good spinners, especially they have very good spinners who play all over the world.
02:26 So as a bowling unit, I think they are doing good. So basically we need to tackle that part.
02:33 And after that, I think all the 20 teams are equally balanced and just go and express ourselves.
02:41 We want to go tomorrow and showcase our talent in front of the world.
02:44 And can you give us an idea of what the experience of being at a World Cup, coming to cities, places like Florida, what is this like for you and your team?
02:51 What does it mean to you guys?
02:53 Absolutely, we are enjoying here. We have been here before one more time in Houston.
03:01 And coming here in World Cup, it's a different experience. Especially playing in a huge crowd.
03:07 We are enjoying it. As a kid and as a team, it was our dream to play World Cup.
03:16 And this is the time where we need to enjoy and we are enjoying it.
03:20 Can you tell us about your supporters? We see some amazing photos back home of them all watching on the screen.
03:25 And you will probably get some supporters coming here as well. What is the support and fan base like for the Nepal cricket team?
03:31 Yeah, absolutely. It's a privilege, especially in an associated country, you don't get too much crowd.
03:37 And the way they have been supporting us, not only in Nepal, but outside of our country.
03:43 So it's a privilege for us and we want to play our best cricket and make them proud and happy.
03:49 What would a win at the World Cup mean for Nepal?
03:52 I think it would be a great gift from us to our country.
03:57 And it would be a motivation for all of us.
04:01 We want to go tomorrow and express ourselves and grab that first win for us.
04:08 What are you expecting in terms of conditions? You have obviously been training here a little bit.
04:13 What are you expecting for the conditions tomorrow night?
04:16 If you see in the USA, there have been difficult conditions, especially if you see the matches in New York, Dallas.
04:24 So I think apart from that, I believe that the conditions in Florida and Wicket is very good, especially talking to the curator.
04:32 And here two warm-up games were played and both were high scoring, 180 scores.
04:38 So we believe that it will be a high scoring and good game. So we are looking forward to tomorrow's game.
04:43 Any more questions in English before we pass across?
04:46 Rohit, now we will go in our own language.
04:54 Now the team has a westernized approach. Will there be only 14 or 15 members in the team tomorrow?
05:01 Because the practice is replaced.
05:04 14.
05:06 So let's talk about the conditions. This is the first match tomorrow in Florida.
05:12 And you are playing against a test country.
05:14 But as you said, the matches in the USA, even if it is 100+, it is a defendable score.
05:21 So what plans do you have for tomorrow?
05:24 Especially, if you see, the conditions are making it difficult to score runs.
05:34 The conditions in New York and Dallas and Florida are very different.
05:40 Especially, Florida had a game before, the game of India-West Indies.
05:44 So I think the conditions are different.
05:46 And we have practiced for 2-3 days.
05:50 Wicket is looking very good.
05:52 And especially, if we play with the best conditions and present our skills, we can beat any team.
06:01 And that belief is in the team.
06:04 We are confident for tomorrow.
06:06 Especially, if you see this tournament, there are a lot of ups and downs.
06:11 So I think that belief is in the team.
06:13 And I think more than the associate team, the test playing country has pressure.
06:17 So we will utilize that pressure and create under pressure.
06:21 So we want to win tomorrow's game.
06:24 So if we write the basic things, I think we are ahead.
06:29 Speaking of pitch, did you practice in the pitch?
06:33 Yes, we practiced in the square, but we also did bowling and fielding on the ground.
06:39 How was the pitch assessment?
06:43 The wicket was good.
06:46 We didn't play in the main wicket, but the wicket was similar to the side wicket.
06:50 So the wicket was very good.
06:52 Ok, thank you.
06:57 Rohit, Sabina, in the first match, there were a lot of dot balls.
07:02 Nepal had played a lot of dot balls.
07:04 And the feeling of Nepal was excellent, but there were some weaknesses.
07:07 But Nepal is open for the Super 8.
07:09 If we win tomorrow, Sri Lanka is in a do or die situation.
07:12 So how is the team's mindset for tomorrow's match?
07:15 Do we have pressure?
07:17 I think Sri Lanka has more pressure than us.
07:20 And speaking of dot balls, I think the condition of USA is very bad.
07:26 Yesterday, India scored only 119.
07:29 Overall, if you look at the conditions, if you score 140, it feels like a winning score.
07:38 So there are dot balls in this condition.
07:41 Those who get a start, they need to utilize it.
07:44 Yesterday's game was scoring 30-40, but they were able to utilize it.
07:51 So it's a little difficult for new batsmen to play.
07:54 So I think as a batsman, whoever can capitalize on that start,
07:57 how can they get the team to win the winning score.
08:00 And as a team, I think the belief is still there.
08:04 It's not like the first game, but still, as a team, we believe that we will win the next game.
08:11 We are looking forward to it.
08:13 We are very excited about tomorrow's game.
08:17 Sri Lanka played two warm-up games in this pitch.
08:20 We have played 181-160 in the first inning.
08:24 Will there be any changes in the last game with an extra bowler or will you back that individual?
08:29 We will know the changes after tomorrow's condition.
08:32 Especially, there is water tomorrow.
08:34 So we will decide after tomorrow's condition, which team we will play with.
08:41 That's all.
08:48 We played two international matches in the US and one with Canada.
08:53 We played a World Cup match with the Netherlands.
08:55 Was it difficult to apply the conditions in both the teams or did we outplay them?
09:01 I think, basically, when we play in Nepal, the conditions are different.
09:07 And when we play in Nepal, there is a pattern.
09:12 It's a little difficult to adjust quickly as an Asian country.
09:17 So, as a professional, it's necessary to adapt.
09:20 We were a little behind in Canada, but still, we were up to the mark in the Netherlands.
09:30 But, my wicket on the 16th over, I think, was a little stressed.
09:35 If I had gone to 19-20 overs, I think it could have been 125-130.
09:39 And in that wicket, I think it was a good score.
09:43 We are in the game, but we are not finishing.
09:48 As a team, we are looking forward to winning the next game.
09:55 Let's talk about the openers.
09:57 We are trusting them, even without scores.
10:00 We are asking three openers to accommodate in the team.
10:05 That doesn't seem like a risk.
10:07 But, we are under pressure from Sri Lanka.
10:13 I think, it's important to trust them.
10:16 Because, as a team, if we don't trust each other, we won't get the result.
10:21 Especially, we need to be patient in this situation.
10:25 Because, even if we don't get the result, it's not easy to change the top end.
10:30 I don't think so. Especially, the situation in Afghanistan has grown since 2014.
10:37 We didn't get the result in 2015, 2016, and 2017.
10:41 But, they didn't make any drastic changes.
10:44 So, I think, patience is very important.
10:46 And, belief and trust is very important.
10:49 As a team, we are believing in each other.
10:51 And, we are looking forward.
10:59 I am Niranjan Rajbansi from BBC.
11:01 Sandeep Lameeshan has reached to the West Indies.
11:04 He has also released a press release.
11:06 What will be the difference in the team?
11:08 I think, he will be the match winner.
11:12 Tomorrow's game is not available.
11:14 But, in the next game...
11:16 In the West Indies, especially, spin bowling is very beneficial.
11:21 And, Sandy's record is also very good in the CPL.
11:24 So, I think, wicket-taker bowler is added.
11:27 He has experience in T20.
11:29 So, I think, he will be added to the team.
11:32 Last question.
11:35 How do you think Sri Lanka is?
11:39 In which aspect, we should beat them?
11:41 Which weakness of theirs should we tackle?
11:44 I think, as a team, Sri Lanka is very good.
11:49 Especially, if you look at the past, their record is very good.
11:52 They have also won T20 World Cup.
11:54 So, they haven't taken lightly to any team.
11:56 They haven't played as they had planned.
11:58 So, they have created pressure.
12:00 Their batting is not good.
12:02 So, if they create that pressure and bowl well,
12:06 if they restrict the total and chase,
12:10 I think, tomorrow's record will break.
12:14 They have beaten a test-playing country.
12:16 So, I think, tomorrow is the day where we beat them.
12:19 Thank you.