Nepali cricket team’s skipper Paras Khadka underwent surgery for apendicitis two weeks ago. While the rest of the team trained in Noida in India, he was recuperating at home. Khadka returned to the nets on Monday as Nepal prepare to take on Kenya at home in the World Criclket League Championship. Onlinekhabar caught up with Khadka for a chat. Excerpts:
How is your health now?
It is good, I started training from today. I did some running and batting.
We got to know that we had been admitted to hospital only the day you were discharged. Was this something you were dealing with for some time …
Appendicitis is something that happens without warning. The doctors tell me that there’s no other way of dealing with it except for surgery. On that Thursday I was training, and in the evening I slept after dinner. I had stomach ache which showed no signs of going away. That is why I went to the hospital. Unfortunately, all this happened before a big match.
Last year also you had some health issues. Is this something that was not diagnosed last year?
Last year when I went to New Delhi for treatment, everything was normal. The doctors there said I had a small infection in my intestine. But that too was cured with medication. It was only later that I found out it was apendicitis.
You got to rest only for two weeks …
It was more of rehab than rest. The doctors saud I could do some light walking after sometime. I am training after two weeks. Let’s see how my body responds on the 10th.
Many fans of Nepali cricket are concerned that you might miss the game…
As a player, I want to play for my team and contribute to a win against Kenya. But all of our team members are talented. I don’t think the team needs to depend solely on an individual. In the past also we have been playing as a team, and we will continue to do so.
All 14 players in the squad are in good form. But god forbid if I do not make it, I am confident that the team will play well. That the game is taking place in Nepal is also a big advantage for us. As of now, I have a feeling that I can play.
The 14-member squad has some new faces. Can we say that we have found the right opening pair for the squad in Gyanendra and Sunil Dhamala?
Sunil has opened for the U-19 squad. He played well during the Delhi visit. He has also been performing well in domestic competitions. Sunil was also with us during the Netherlands tour. But he did not get to play there. I believe he can debut this time.
Dipendra Singh Airee is also in the team. He also performed well in the U-19 tournament. That is why he is in the team. Let’s hope they will justify their selection with performance on the ground.
