Healing touch: Mumbai physio helping Nepal cricket in their bid to qualify for World T20

There have been numerous stories of sports uniting countries and people — and another heart-warming story has been added to the list. Just as Nepal tries to get back to normalcy from the massive earthquakes and its after-shocks, Aijaz Ashai - a physiotherapist and sports medicine expert from Mumbai - is providing a healing touch to the tragedy-hit country. DNA reports that the Nepal Cricket Association had approached Ashai earlier this year but the deal didn’t work out. But then Ashai joined the team on emotional grounds. [caption id=“attachment_2313938” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of Nepal cricketers. AFP[/caption] “They were obviously quite depressed with what they went through in that deadly earthquake. But the boys did not bring it on field,” said Ashai, who left the Bengal Warriors ProKabaddi League team to join the Nepal Cricket team. According to a report in the Times of India, the Nepal cricket team roped in Ashai as they start their bid to qualify for the World T20 to be held in India in 2016. Nepal will fight it out with 12 other teams in the World T20 qualifiers starting from July 10 in Ireland and Scotland. Ashai has enjoyed stints with high profile teams such as Delhi and Mumbai Ranji Trophy teams, Indian Rugby teams and also with the Mumbai Indians. Ashai will not only act as the physiotherapist but also provide mental conditioning. “I spoke to each one of them for 45 minutes and tried to stress on them that if they qualify for the World Cup again, it will be the biggest healing balm for the nation and it will help put a smile back on the people’s faces,” Ashai told Times of India. Ashai also tried to boost their confidence by telling inspirational stories of the Jammu & Kashmir cricketers who were hit by floods and didn’t have any facilities to prepare but still bounced back to have a good domestic season. Earlier, the BCCI had provided a helping hand to the Nepal cricket team by making available the HPCA Stadium in Dharamsala for training and preparation for World T20 Qualifiers. Click here to read the full DNA report. Click here to read the full Times of India report.