SHAKTI GAUCHAN RETIRES

Kathmandu, July 18: Shakti Gauchan, Nepal’s veteran spinner has decided to retire from cricket after Nepal’s game against Netherlands.

“It is of utmost joy to retire after Nepal received its One Day International (ODI) status. I hope new talents will step up to help Nepali cricket grow,” Gauchan said.

At the age of 26, Shakti Gauchan became the first Nepali cricketer to complete 1,000 runs in international one-dayers during his half-century against Malaysia in the ACC Trophy Elite 2010 semifinal match at the Hubara, Kuwait.

On his debut in the national team in 2002, he won the man-of the-match award against Oman for scoring 37 runs and taking three wickets. The ACC Trophy turned out to be his dream debut as he went on to score 248 runs and took seven wickets in six matches helping Nepal reach the final. The Republica