As announced in the summer of 2018, MCC has introduced into its overseas touring programme a series of Legacy Tours, aimed at leaving a sustainable and meaningful impact in developing cricket nations.
The first of these is Nepal, with the Club committing to touring Nepal for three years from 2019 to 2021 inclusive. The MCC Foundation will support MCC in this objective, by funding programmes off the pitch which includes laying nets in five government schools, upskilling local coaches and teachers, and broadening access to the game for Nepali boys and girls.
A strong 13-man squad will be departing London for Nepal on 1st November, and will play six matches in the two-week trip including a three-day match against the Nepal national side, which has been granted first-class status.
Former Hampshire batsman Jimmy Adams is the MCC captain for the tour. Adams enjoyed a sixteen-year career with Hampshire and is currently second eleven coach at the Ageas Bowl.
Yasir Arafat, who represented Pakistan in all three formats of the game, is included in the squad. The seamer also enjoyed stints at no less than five counties and is still one of the world’s leading T20 wicket-takers.
Tom Westley, who recently helped Essex to their second Specsavers County Championship title in three seasons, will bring further international experience to MCC having played five Test Matches for England in 2017, whilst Derbyshire skipper Billy Godleman, who enjoyed an impressive 2019 season making over 1,000 Championship runs, is also included.
The Club’s charitable arm – the MCC Foundation – will focus on developing the game at the grassroots. The Foundation will work with UK charity Kidasha, who aim to improve the life chances of some of Pokhara’s most vulnerable children, particularly in slum communities. The Foundation will lay nets in five government schools, upskill local coaches and teachers, provide kit and cricket training, and establish a new schools league for both girls and boys in the city.
The MCC tourists, led by Gloucestershire second eleven coach and former MCC Young Cricketer Owen Dawkins, will run coaching sessions in one of the five schools – Shree Barahi Higher Secondary School – on Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th November.
"This upcoming tour begins part of the new Legacy Tour agreement, with the MCC Foundation supporting this major project which further reiterates MCC’s global influence on the game."
John Stephenson, MCC Head of Cricket, said: “MCC has strong cricketing links with Nepal, having hosted them at Lord’s twice in recent years and toured to the country in both 2009 and 2015.
"This upcoming tour begins part of the new Legacy Tour agreement, with the MCC Foundation supporting this major project which further reiterates MCC’s global influence on the game.
“We have selected a strong squad with both international and domestic experience who will provide tough opposition for Nepal’s talented players. They will also be fine ambassadors for MCC and prove valuable assets to the Club when coaching youngsters on the tour.”
Abi Carter, Director of the MCC Foundation, said: “This is the Foundation’s first major overseas project, and we are aiming not just to provide opportunities for both boys and girls to learn and play the game, but also to use cricket for broader good, like breaking down perceptions around gender roles, and building young people’s confidence and aspirations.
“This should be a great example of MCC and the Foundation working hand in hand to develop all levels of the game in Nepal. MCC tourists will kick the project off in November, MCC and Foundation coaches will run “coach the coaches” courses in December, and our funds will go towards facilities, kit and training sessions until June next year.
"We are delighted to be working with Kidasha, who already do incredible work with some of the most vulnerable young people in Pokhara, to bring the benefits of sport to what we hope will be over 1,000 young people.”
Jimmy Adams (Captain)
Yasir Arafat
Billy Godleman
Miles Hammond
Oliver Hannon-Dalby
Callum Jackson
Will Rhodes
Alex Spencer
Alex Thomson
Will Vanderspar
Ed Young
Tom Westley
Chris Wright
Richard Greatorex (Tour Manager)
Owen Dawkins (Coach)
Jeff Evans (Umpire)
Alan Jones (Scorer)
Matches to be played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground, Kathmandu:
Sunday 3rd November: v Nepal Under-19s (50 overs)
Monday 4th November: v Nepal (50 overs)
Wednesday 6th – Friday 8th November: v Nepal (first-class three-day match)
Saturday 9th November: v Mixed National Side/Under-19s (T20)
Matches to be played at the Pokhara Rangasala Cricket Ground, Pokhara:
Monday 11th November: v Pokhara Invitational XI (T20)
Tuesday 12th November: v Chief Minister’s XI (T20)
In the first year of this three-year programme, the Foundation will be funding a £56k project in Pokhara, between November 2019 and June 2020. It will be delivered by Kidasha, a UK charity which undertakes work purely in Nepal, and runs life skills lessons around building confidence and resilience in Pokhara schools.
The Project encompasses:
- The laying of nets in five schools (Cricket Resource Schools)
- MCC and MCC Foundation coaches travelling to Nepal to December to upskill five local coaches and 15 local teachers (five in the cricket resource schools and ten in feeder schools) to deliver cricket
- The provision of kit for pupils in the fifteen schools
- Cricket coaching based at the five CRSs, six days a week
- The establishment of a new schools league, with both boys’ and girls’ teams
Both MCC and the Foundation aim to uncover and nurture cricketing talent at both elite and grassroots levels. The Foundation is also aiming to bring about broader socio-economic benefits by introducing cricket in schools e.g. around improving perceptions of gender, increasing confidence, and encouraging schools attendance.