Patrons and Advisors

Patrons & Advisors

Patron

Basant K Chaudhary

Basant Kumar Chaudhary is the Honorary Patron of the Foundation. It is difficult to introduce him in a single paragraph because of his versatility and dynamism. A most successful business-leader holding multiple conglomerates and blended with beautiful hearts that has linked many into his arts, leadership and literacy worldwide. He is also the Honorary Consul General of the Kingdom of Morocco to the Republic of Nepal. On top of that, he has a passion for Cricket, Cricket in Nepal, for Nepal and for international development. He is the one who had the vision of building a modern cricket facility in Nepal, and who kick-started some initiative earlier in the year. He has been following our progress with great interest.

Message from his Desk

I am delighted to support the Bat and Ball Foundation. Sports has become a great medium to bring a country together and cricket is one of the fastest growing sports in Nepal which has connected everybody of us in any way. We can see children of different backgrounds and the levels are increasingly enthusiastic to pick up a bat and ball in every street. Bat and Ball Foundation is another great example of a successful spin-off to nurture them. And I believe it will leave a lasting legacy in Nepal for the development of the game, and I wish them every success."

Advisors

Wally Edwards

Walter John Edwards (born 23 December 1949, Subiaco, Western Australia) is a former Australian cricketer who played in three Tests and one ODI from 1974 to 1975.

He served as a vice-president of the Western Australian Cricket Association since 2000.He was elected Chairman of Cricket Australia in 2011. He spent past two years as chairman of the ICC executive committee during his tenure. Edwards, 65, retired as chairman of Cricket Australia on 2015. During his tenure, Australian cricket is indebted to Wally for the enormous contribution he has made throughout his time involved with the game.

Kerry Edwards

Kerry Edwards, is a great sports lover. She run her family owned business-Holman Industries, an irrigation and supply company in Australia

Message from Wally Edwards
“Kerry and I are very pleased and honoured to be associated with the Bat and Ball Foundation. Since we both visited Nepal to celebrate the Phillip Hughes Memorial Match in Kathmandu we have been in love with the country. The passion for cricket in Nepal is remarkable. Cricket is a sport that embraces all cultures and ages. It brings countries and peoples together in many ways. I hope the Bat and Ball Foundation can assist give girls and boys in Nepal an opportunity to play cricket and gain enjoyment from experiencing the Spirit of playing and participating in team sport”.

Cassim Suliman

Cassim Suliman, nicknamed 'Cass' by his colleagues, is a former ICC-Africa Regional Development Manager and Africa Cricket Association CEO has long been committed to the cause of cricket as a vehicle for social transformation. Capable, colourful, and a man who can get pretty much anything done in the vast continent thanks to his immense charm and leverage.

Bandula Warnapurna

Bandula Warnapura, is a is a former cricketer and Sri Lanka's first Test captain. He played 4 Test matches and 12 One Day Internationals (ODI) during his international cricketing career from 1975 to 1982. He was a right-handed opening batsman and a right-handed medium pace bowler. In 2003 he was named a Member of the Cricket Committee and Director, Cricket Operations by The Board of Control for Cricket in Sri Lanka (BCCSL). He also became Director of Operations for Cricket Sri Lanka (CSL) and the Development Manager of Asian Cricket Council. He also served as Development Manager of International Cricket Council. He was consultant to International Cricket Council till end of Dec 2016.

Chirs Nunn

Chris Nunn is motivated by getting the best out of people. As an athlete he represented Australia at the Commonwealth Games, and then transferred his knowledge and motivation across to become one of the world’s most successful Paralympic Coaches. He led the Australian Athletics Team to be the best in the world at the Sydney 2000 Paralympic Games and was awarded the Order of Australia Medal for his services to people with a disability.

Dr. Madan Kumar Bhattarai, is one of the most renowned diplomats of Nepal.
As a career diplomat, he spent more than thirty seven years in Government with almost thirty year experience, expertise and study of South Asia both from the headquarters as Head of South Asia and SAARC Division, and missions in South Asia with special focus on India, and handled major bilateral visits. He served as an ambassador of Nepal in India for three times and spent eleven years and Bangladesh for three years. He also headed North-East Asia, South-East Asia & Pacific Division, Europe & America Division and Administration Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs. He served as a Spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 1998, 2003,2004 and 2009. He worked as an Ambassador to the Federal Republic of Germany from 2004 to 2009. In between 2009-2011 he was a foreign secretary of Nepal. He became ambassador to Japan in 2011 till 2015. He is a also visiting lecturer of Tribhuvan University. In 2016, he was appointed as a expert on Foreign Affairs and Diplomacy to Rt. Hon. President Mrs. Bidya Devi Bhandari.