Cricket diplomacy: How Indian government and BCCI are helping Nepal to develop the sport

Cricket diplomacy: How Indian government and BCCI are helping Nepal to develop the sport (X/CricketNep)

Cricket cooperation has added a new dimension to the deep rooted and age-old historical ties between India and Nepal, connecting the youth of the two countries through a shared passion for the sport. As part of the cooperation, the Indian government is assisting Nepal in nurturing cricket talent and providing training opportunities for Nepalese cricketers in India.

Over the past two years the Indian government and BCCI have worked together with the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) towards this endeavour. Highlighting India’s commitment, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar met Nepal’s men national cricket team and representatives of CAN in January 2024 and conveyed the country’s support for growth of cricket in Nepal.

Supported by the government, BCCI Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru will be hosting the Nepal’s men team for a training camp from August 20 to September 04 2025. Here the team will prepare for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Qualifiers scheduled in October 2025 in Oman. India had previously organised a similar training camp for the Nepal’s men team at the same venue in August last year.

Support to U-19

Nepal participated in a triangular T20 practice tournament against teams of Baroda and Gujarat Cricket Associations in April 2024 prior to the ICC T20 Cricket World Cup held in June 2024. India supported the practice tournament between Under-19 teams of Nepal and Delhi & District Cricket Association (DDCA) team in Nepal in March 2025, which was to assist the nation's preparation for ICC Under 19 World Cup qualifiers.

Support to Nepal's women team

The Nepal women team participated in a preparation camp at Delhi in April-May 2025 to prepare for ICC Women Asia World Cup Qualifiers in Thailand in May 2025. Nepal reached the finals of the Qualifiers. In July 2025, Embassy of India, Kathmandu supported three promising Under-19 cricketers from Nepal for a month-long professional training program in Bhopal.

The Indian government has taken similar initiatives in the past as well. A bus was gifted to CAN in 2013. In October 2023, Embassy of India, Kathmandu presented professional sporting equipment to Nepal’s men team through the BP Koirala India-Nepal Foundation and the SJVN Ltd - a public sector undertaking of the government of India.