Cow Corner

Rubina Chhetry is an icon for many sportspersons in Nepal. And her story is nothing but inspirational. From being raised by a single mother to being denied passport to travel with Nepal national team, she's seen it all. And she's also seen herself becoming the first ever Nepali cricketer to register a hat-trick in an ICC event, when she singlehandedly defeated Singapore women's team when they required two runs to win and had five wickets in hand. Currently she's captain of Nepali team.

She's also a rebel, having left the cushion of a comfortable job with all strong Armed Police Force team, taking up cricketing activities in her province and making sure her team wins the nationals against the same team she once was a part of. She loves not walking the beaten path. Here, she talks about her journey from backwaters of Nepali cricket to the national team leadership.

Navin Khatiwada has many faces, one of which is that of a sports journalist. Though he's worked for other beats, Navin remains quintessential sports journalist, as he says he enjoyed it more than any other field of work. He has worked extensively in Radio, TV, Print and Online news. I may have started liking him because we had similar tastes. He enjoyed watching the same players that I did, supported the same teams I did across sports. Also he loves his whiskey - perhaps even more than I did!

It might have started as a liking for a person with similar tastes, but over the years I have grown to admire him, for what he is - a cricket enthusiast, lover of all sports, poetry aficionado and a poet with a rebel mind. In this chat, he talks about his fondness of cricket, how he started liking things that he did and also explains why he wrote a thesis on Langston Hughes' 11-line poem 'Harlem' and what it meant for him.

For the uninitiated, here's the poem:

What happens to a dream deferred?

Does it dry up

like a raisin in the sun?

Or fester like a sore—

And then run?

Does it stink like rotten meat?

Or crust and sugar over—

like a syrupy sweet?

Maybe it just sags

like a heavy load.

Or does it explode?

To those who watched Nepali Cricket in 80s and early 90s, Sushil Chaugai was an allrounder who batted with gumption and bowled with guile. His biggest weapon being swing in conditions that may not favor seam bowling. Yet, Chaugai is better known for his fiery temper with the cricketers whom he managed, especially for Kalaiya Cricket Club in Nepal. Strange, none of his wards complain for his temper. They say Chaugai was instrumental in making them better cricketers and later helped them play for the country (at least some of them).

Chaugai live for two Cs - Cricket and Cinema, and loves them with his core. He is in US now, with his son Kanishka Chaugai - who many believe could have been the next big thing for Nepali Cricket in early 2000s. We caught up with senior Chaugai, who in turn opened his heart for us.

Yub Raj might have taken up cricket full time - at least given it go with full throttle - had he not had Nepal's illustrious cricketers of that generation as his friends. They made sure his cricketing ambition remained limited to academic interest and school squad. But that could not diminish the interest his uncle ignited in him, while he was little bigger than a toddler.

A doctor by profession, Yub Raj loves talking cricket - international or Nepal - with just about anyone.  

Sanjeev Pokharel is Anthropologist by academics. But he doesn't want to wear it on his sleeves too seriously. He says, 'In our chats, we don't have to bring in our field of discipline all the time. Carrying a bit of 'Common Sense' in talks is enough."

Needless to say, he is one of the most sought after commentators in Nepal's media.

In this chat on #CowCorner, we talk about his take on #Cricket, his disenchantment with the game and a lot of digression from the topic - because digressions tell us stories we would not be able to hear if that is lacking

Sanjam Regmi is perhaps the most talkative Nepali Cricketer. He has opinions and he doesn't hesitate to share it with anyone. He always used to ask me, in my cricket reporting days, "Did you read this book?" and would throw names of 3-4 titles. I would not say no, even if I had not read the book. Perhaps I feared being taken as a lesser reporter than I wanted to be seen as.

Sanjam played for the national side way back in 2001, when Nepal team traveled to Canada for ICC Trophy. The following year, he played for the U-19 team in the U-19 World Cup, when Nepal played the Plate Final. That's when Nepal was noticed in international cricket for the first time.

Sanjam may not be the force he once was, with his bowling. But that doesn't stop him from dishing out verbal punches. Listen to what he has to say, in this episode of #CowCorner

Sita Ranamagar has been in #Nepali Team since Nepal played its first International Women's cricket match. Barring 2009, when she was not selected in the team, Sita has been mainstay of Nepal's women team. Not being selected in 2009 changed her life, as then she turned her game around completely to become main batter of the team from being a bowler who was named as best bowler in her debut international tournament.

Sita's cricket journey is inspirational. Her father, in her younger days opposed her playing. Now he keeps tab of her matches and her performance. Motivation for many budding cricketers, Sita remains humble and a prankster of the team. Becoming vice-captain of the team has not changed it. You have to listen to Sita's story to know what a girl has to do to become a player.

Janak Poudyal, Jotare Dhaiba (Jeevan Karki) and Rupesh Shrestha are poets that need no introduction in Nepal. I, Somesh Verma, have had the luxury of working with them. Needless to say, they are among my favorite colleagues apart from being favorite poets.

They, along with another fine poet Kamal Kumar, created a forum called Cafe Kavita, bringing Nepali poets to Cafe Culture of Kathmandu. Though dormant now, Cafe Kavita was a rage in its heydays. Another common thing with these poets is, they worked for Kantipur Television together, bringing energy to the team. These men are diverse in their writings and do not hesitate to pull each others' legs and share a laugh.

In this episode of #CowCorner, they present their take on poetry, how they write what they write and the process of creating.

Bardan Chalise was what you wanted your favorite cricketer to be. Busy on the field, scoring quick 30-40s, chipping in with a couple of important wickets off opposition, added to his electric fielding. Vice captain of the glorious Nepali team to Under 19 World Cup in 2002 - when Sri Lanka international Roy Dias took the boys to New Zealand - Bardan was instrumental for Nepal's fortunes, especially when Nepal beat Test nation Pakistan. He was Nepal's MVP for the tournament (although there was no such formal title).

Bardan had a great career waiting for him. But he left Nepali Cricket when he was 20. It is difficult to say who was at a greater loss, Nepal Cricket having missed Bardan or Bardan having missed Nepali Cricket. In this chat, Bardan talks about his young days and what fascinated him to take up the sport.