CAN seeks Lower Mulpani handover before 2027 U19 Women's World Cup

The Cricket Association of Nepal has asked the government to bring the Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground under its control before Nepal co-hosts the ICC U19 Women’s T20 World Cup in 2027, CAN vice-president Roshan Singh has said.

Speaking in an interview, Singh said he had recently held positive discussions with government officials concerning the TU Cricket Ground agreement, the two grounds at Mulpani and Nepal's preparations for the global tournament.

The 2027 ICC U19 Women's T20 World Cup will be jointly hosted by Nepal and Bangladesh. It will be the largest ICC event Nepal has staged as a co-host.
Singh said the proposed process would first require an agreement involving the National Sports Council, followed by a separate agreement with CAN concerning the TU Cricket Ground.

"The discussion was positive," Singh said. "We need to sit together with the CAN president and move the process forward as quickly as possible."

CAN has also requested that Lower Mulpani Cricket Ground be formally placed under the association before the World Cup. Singh said the venue had remained without clear long-term stewardship despite development work spanning around two decades.

"How long will Lower Mulpani remain restricted without reaching completion?” Singh said. "We have requested that it be handed to CAN before the World Cup."

According to Singh, uncertainty over control of the venue limits CAN’s ability to invest in it. Ground staff are nevertheless working on the playing area, which currently has six pitches but still requires significant improvement to its outfield and other facilities.

Singh said Upper Mulpani has seven pitches and work on its grass and outfield has progressed. At the TU Cricket Ground, grass planting, outfield maintenance, practice nets and other preparations are also underway, with additional work required in the VIP and player accommodation areas.

CAN wants to present the TU Cricket Ground and the two Mulpani venues as three potential grounds when seeking future international hosting opportunities.

"If we can show that we have three grounds and organise events at a lower cost than other countries, we can bid for more tournaments," Singh said.

He argued that staging international cricket would generate wider economic benefits for Nepal through hotels, flights, transport and tourism.

The ICC confirmed Nepal and Bangladesh as joint hosts of the 2027 tournament in 2022. Singh urged the government to treat the event as an opportunity to make lasting investments in cricket infrastructure rather than relying on temporary preparations.