Kanishka Chaugai
{{short description|Nepalese-American cricketer|bot=PearBOT 5}}
{{EngvarB|date=August 2013}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2024}}
{{Infobox cricketer
| name = Kanishka Chaugai
| image =
| country = Nepal
| fullname =
| nickname =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1986|1|24|df=yes}}
| birth_place = Nepal
| heightft =
| heightinch =
| heightm =
| batting = Right-handed
| bowling = Right-arm medium
| role = Batsman
| columns = 1
| column1 = First-class
| matches1 = 2
| runs1 = 101
| bat avg1 = 33.66
| 100s/50s1 = 0/0
| top score1 = 48
| hidedeliveries = true
| catches/stumpings1 = 3/0
| date = 8 March
| year = 2008
| source = http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/46/46586/46586.html CricketArchive
}}
Kanishka Chaugai (born 24 January 1986) is a Nepalese-born American cricketer,[http://content-uk.cricinfo.com/other/content/player/25978.html Cricinfo profile]{{Cite web|title=Kanishka Chaugai – Minor League Cricket|url=https://cricclubs.com/MiLC/viewPlayer.do?playerId=2177404&clubId=18036|access-date=2022-01-28|website=cricclubs.com}} who currently plays for Minor League Cricket team Hollywood Master Blasters in American domestic tournaments.{{Cite web|last=Andrew Leonard|title=Hollywood Master Blasters 2021|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/all-27-teams-complete-initial-roster-selection-following-minor-league-cricket-draft/attachment/hollywood-master-blasters-2021/|access-date=2022-01-28|website=USA Cricket}} A right-handed batsman and right-arm medium pace bowler,[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/46/46586/46586.html CricketArchive profile] he previously represented for the Nepal national cricket team in 2004.[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/46/46586/all_teams.html Teams played for by Kanishka Chaugai] at CricketArchive
Biography
Born in Nepal in 1986, Kanishka Chaugai first played for Nepal at Under-17 level when he played in the ICC Under-17 Asia Cup in Pakistan in 2000. He played in the ACC Under-17 Asia Cup in Bangladesh the following year before playing at Under-19 level for the first time in the 2002 Under-19 World Cup in New Zealand.[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/46/46586/Other_matches.html Other matches played by Kanishka Chaugai] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121016160229/http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/46/46586/Other_matches.html |date=16 October 2012 }} at CricketArchive
In 2003, he played three matches for Nepal Under-19s against India Under-19s before playing in the Youth Asia Cup in Pakistan. He played in a second Under-19 World Cup in Bangladesh in 2004 and made his début for the Nepal senior side that year when he played in an ACC Fast Track Countries Tournament match against Hong Kong.
Remaining in the senior side, in early 2005 he played in the repêchage tournament of the 2005 ICC Trophy, in which Nepal finished third after beating Qatar in a play-off.[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/102/102372.html Scorecard] of Nepal v Qatar, 27 February 2005 at CricketArchive He also played ACC Fast Track Countries Tournament matches against Singapore, Malaysia, the UAE and Hong Kong.[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Players/46/46586/First-Class_Matches.html First-class matches played by Kanishka Chaugai] at CricketArchive The games against the UAE and Hong Kong also counted towards the 2005 ICC Intercontinental Cup[http://www.asiancricket.org/h_ftctpoints0506.cfm 2005 ACC Fast Track Nations Points Table] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325144607/http://www.asiancricket.org/h_ftctpoints0506.cfm |date=25 March 2008 }} and are his only first-class matches to date.
Returning to the Under-19 team, he captained Nepal Under-19s in the 2006 Under-19 World Cup in Sri Lanka, leading them to the Plate Championship final where they beat New Zealand.[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/84/84997.html Scorecard] of Nepal Under-19s v New Zealand Under-19s, 18 February 2006 at CricketArchive Chaugai had won the man of the match award in the plate semi-final where Nepal beat South Africa by 2 runs.[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/84/84963.html Scorecard] of Nepal Under-19s v South Africa Under-19s, 16 February 2006 at CricketArchive He most recently played for the senior side in a play-off match against Namibia to decide the final spot in the 2006 ICC Intercontinental Cup. Needing an outright win to qualify, Nepal could only secure a draw after there was no play on the first day.[http://www.cricketarchive.co.uk/Archive/Scorecards/86/86449.html Scorecard] of Namibia v Nepal, 23 March 2006 at CricketArchive
Late in 2006, Kaniska Chaugai left Nepal and Nepali cricket team to seek future in the United States. In June 2021, he was selected to take part in the Minor League Cricket tournament in the United States following the players' draft.{{cite web|url=https://www.usacricket.org/media-release/all-27-teams-complete-initial-roster-selection-following-minor-league-cricket-draft/ |title=All 27 Teams Complete Initial Roster Selection Following Minor League Cricket Draft |work=USA Cricket |access-date=11 June 2021}}