Nepal cheers T20 history-making heroes

Kathmandu: Nepal, a country best known for its snow-capped mountains rather than sun-baked pitches, swelled with pride Thursday over its cricket team after their shock qualification for the Twenty20 World Cup finals.

The team's victory in a crucial qualifier over Hong Kong in Dubai on Wednesday knocked an ongoing political crisis off the newspaper front pages back home with the best-selling Kantipur leading with the headline: 'Nepal Creates History, Enters the World Cup'.

Fans took to the streets late Wednesday, waving national flags and chanting their support for the team after it managed to qualify for the finals of a major cricket tournament for the first time. Khilraj Regmi, the interim head of government after Nepal held elections last week, was among those who hailed the team's historic achievement.

"I am extremely pleased with the historic success. It has not only brought about great enthusiasm among fans but also helped elevate the sporting pride around the globe," he said in a statement.

"Congratulations Nepali Twenty20 cricket team on your grand entry to (the) World Cup," tweeted Baburam Bhattarai, a former prime minister and Maoist leader.

Qualification was only secured off the last ball of the match, when Sharad Vesawkar scampered through for a single, giving Nepal a five-wicket victory over Hong Kong.

The team needed 13 off the last over but Vesawakar hit a six and then a boundary off the first two balls.

Nepal only started fielding a national side in 1996 and football remains by far the most popular sport, despite the country's proximity to cricket-made India. The Twenty20 World Cup is due to take place in Bangladesh between March 16 and April 6 next year.

As well as the established Test sides, Nepal will line up against fellow minnows Ireland, Afghanistan and the United Arab Emirates at the World Cup after they also secured qualification in Dubai. The Nepalese side's next match is on Friday when it takes on Afghanistan in the semi-final of the qualifying tournament in Dubai. All the semi-finalists are guaranteed a place in Bangladesh.