Newly appointed Nepal women’s team coach Harshal Pathak has laid out a clear blueprint for the national side, promising to build a fearless playing culture that prioritises self-reliant decision-making, stronger consistency and better pressure management as Nepal prepares for major ICC competitions at home.
Speaking after his arrival, Pathak thanked the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) for the opportunity and said it has been a “pleasure” to be in Nepal, praising both the welcome he received and the energy he has seen around the team in his first few days. “Talking to the team, looking at the team activities and all, it seems to be very enthusiastic and very keen to do well in the upcoming games,” he said.
A 21-year coaching journey shaped by key milestones
Pathak introduced himself as a coach with more than two decades of experience, explaining that he started coaching early after suffering an injury. He described coaching as a career filled with both disappointments and rewarding moments, before sharing some of the milestones he values most.
Among the highlights, he recalled being part of the coaching setup when Maharashtra reached the Ranji Trophy final after a 21-year wait—an achievement he said remains especially close to him. He also spoke about working with several male cricketers who later progressed to India Under-19 and performed strongly within India’s first-class structure, calling it a “great pleasure” to have contributed to their journeys.
Pathak also referred to his time working as Harmanpreet Kaur’s personal batting coach for two years, and pointed to two major achievements from his stint with Thailand. He said Thailand’s qualification for the 2020 World Cup in Australia was a proud moment, and he also highlighted the team’s historic run to the semi-finals—an achievement that included wins over full member nations.
“Players must decide”: the philosophy he wants Nepal to adopt
At the centre of Pathak’s message was a coaching philosophy built around independence. He said his priority is to create an environment that helps players become more self-reliant, because the most important choices in cricket are made by players on the field, not by coaches from the outside.
“When the players go in the field, they have to take the decisions… when to attack, when to be defensive,” he said, adding that the role of the coaching staff is to support, but the responsibility must sit with the player. Pathak stressed that players will make mistakes, but the critical part is learning how to correct them, which he believes can only happen through a cycle of experience—playing, reviewing, improving, practising and returning to matches.
He said he wants Nepal’s players to play with courage and to be encouraged to take responsibility for their decisions, a mindset he views as essential for success at higher levels.
First impressions of Nepal: passion, balance, and genuine potential
Pathak said Nepal is not unfamiliar to him. He explained that he has previously watched Nepal as an opponent while working with Thailand, and he believes the women’s team has real potential and talent. He also praised the passion for cricket within Nepal, pointing to the men’s team as an example that can inspire the women’s side.
“I love about this team is the passion they have for the game,” he said, extending that praise beyond the squad to the wider cricket-following public in Nepal. In terms of the playing resources, Pathak described Nepal as a balanced unit with a strong batting line-up, very good spinners and a group of decent fast bowlers—qualities he believes give a coach and captain valuable flexibility when selecting combinations based on pitch and opposition.
That balance, he added, should help Nepal build approaches that can win games rather than merely compete.
What must improve: fielding, batting consistency, and strength & conditioning
While expressing optimism, Pathak also identified areas he wants to lift quickly. He said Nepal can improve significantly in fielding, and he emphasised the need for greater consistency in batting performances over a run of innings.
He framed it in practical terms, saying that out of 10 innings, he would like to see Nepal succeed around seven times, whether chasing targets or setting big totals. Alongside that, he highlighted the importance of maintaining pressure while bowling. Pathak also said strength and conditioning will be addressed “significantly” as the team’s preparation ramps up.
Handling home expectations: “Options over emotion”
With Nepal set to play major tournaments at home, Pathak acknowledged the advantage of familiar conditions and venues, but also spoke about the pressure that comes with expectations—from the players themselves, stakeholders and the public.
His solution, he said, is mental discipline: staying present, focusing on plans, and choosing options over emotional reactions in tight situations. “If you are in a tight situation… your emotions will not help you, but the options what you need to take, that will help you,” he said, adding that the team will work on mental habits such as visualisation and controlling what is within their influence, while treating everything else as noise.
“We are not here to participate”: winning intent with a long-term pathway
Pathak made it clear that Nepal’s intent will be to win, not to participate. However, he cautioned that winning is built through a method and culture—through a consistent process, the right environment, and a shared approach across the group. He also said younger players must be exposed to pressure situations because real match pressure cannot be recreated in training, especially at ICC qualifiers, and that those experiences ultimately shape better cricketers.
He said he has been encouraged by the alignment he has felt between CAN, the management and the team, describing everyone as being “on the same page” about improving women’s cricket in Nepal. Pathak also referenced a long-term vision that includes developing the Under-19 pathway, calling it an important focus area to strengthen the national side over time.
A direct call to fans: “Come in huge numbers”
Pathak finished with a clear request to Nepali supporters, asking them to turn up in large numbers to back the women’s team. He said crowd support can push players to find an extra edge and described Nepal’s cricket passion as a powerful strength that can accelerate the growth of the women’s game.
"The women’s team of this country needs your support," he said. “Come in huge numbers and support us.”
