INDIAN CRICKET CAPTAIN DHONI NOMINATED GOODWILL AMBASSADOR UPDATE Kathmandu, 16 June:: The government has declared Indian cricket team captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni as the goodwill ambassador, asking for his support in the development of cricket in Nepal, RSS reports. Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation, Posta Bahadur Bogati, handed the certificate of goodwill ambassador to Dhoni in a news conference held here on Saturday. Speaking on the occasion, Dhoni opined that the game of cricket has become extremely popular in the countries of South Asia and with this the standard of the game has also increased. He said he would extend the maximum cooperation from his side for the development of the game in Nepal and that there was good possibility of cricket here. "Although I have heard that Nepal has been performing well in the game at the international level, I have not got the opportunity to watch Nepal play. I hope I will also have that opportunity," said the Indian cricket team skipper. Dhoni who made his innings in cricket as a player from 2004 went on to become the captain of the Indian cricket team in 2007. In response to a query by Nepali cricketers, Dhoni said, "Just like I was successful in keeping my country's name in the game in course of playing cricket, you also keep up trying. You will be successful." He said the interaction with the Nepali players was fruitful and also expressed the belief that Nepal-India relations would be further deepen by means of cricket. Stating that he received warm welcome in Nepal, the Indian cricket team's captain said he would visit Nepal in the coming days also. Earlier today, Dhoni had an interaction with the players of the U-19 national team who are in training at the cricket ground at the Tribhuvan University. He commented that the only international-standard cricket pitch in Nepal- the TU cricket ground – was the best. Dhoni accompanied by his spouse Sakshi Singh Dhoni is on a two-day visit to Nepal at the joint invitation of the Embassy of India, Kathmandu and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN). CAN president Tanka Angbuhang Limbu said cricket has not developed in the country as expected and that they were undertaking concrete steps for its development. Indian ambassador Jayant Prasad said that Dhoni is a source of inspiration for all cricket players. Also present on the occasion were the Minister for Land Reforms and Management Chandra Dev Joshi, Home Secretary Sushil Jung Rana, Chief of the Army Staff Chhatraman Singh Gurung, Inspector General of the Armed Police Force, Koshraj Panta, among other dignitaries. nnnn