Underrated side of Nepal’s Cricket: Nepal Wins ICC Digital Fan Engagement Award for Second Consecutive Year

Kathmandu – In a landmark achievement for Nepalese cricket, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has clinched the ICC Digital Fan Engagement of the Year Award for the Asia region in the 2024 ICC Development Awards, marking its second consecutive win in this prestigious category.

The announcement, made on July 5, places Nepal among the elite in global cricket engagement efforts and highlights CAN’s growing digital influence. The victory follows a similar win in 2023, cementing CAN’s position as a regional leader in fan engagement and digital outreach.

“This is a celebration of global exceptionalism, with all winners worthy of the accolades they have received in their mission to grow the game in emerging nations,” said Jay Shah, ICC Chair, congratulating the winners of this year’s Development Awards.

A Digital Success Story

CAN’s impressive digital strategy has focused on expanding its presence across Facebook, Instagram, YouTube, X (formerly Twitter), and a newly launched CAN Domestic Facebook account. These platforms collectively reached an estimated 117 million people, with CAN’s total followers growing from 1.17 million to over 1.59 million, a remarkable gain of more than 420,000 new followers in one year.

Additional metrics reflect the depth of CAN’s digital transformation:

• Facebook (CAN Official) saw video minutes viewed double to over 13.4 million
• CAN Domestic videos garnered 4.4 million minutes of watch time
• YouTube watch hours surged by 277% to over 2.13 million
• Instagram views exceeded 40 million, driven by captivating highlights, behind-the-scenes stories, and real-time match updates

A Growing Cricket Nation

Founded in 1946, the Cricket Association of Nepal became an Associate Member of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in 1996. Nepal’s national team has made appearances at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup in 2014 and most recently in 2024, with its fan base growing rapidly both at home and abroad.

This year’s ICC Development Awards also recognized emerging cricket nations like Bhutan, Indonesia, Namibia, Scotland, Tanzania, the USA, and Vanuatu, reflecting a broader push to globalize the sport.

Nepal’s continued success in the digital space not only strengthens its position on the global cricket map but also demonstrates how strategic content and fan-focused engagement can uplift the profile of an emerging cricket nation.