Before the 2008 ICC Under-19 Cricket World Cup which he captained, Khadka was quoted by the World Cup souvenir program as being "arguably good enough to be in the line-up of any of the Test-playing countries".[22]
In May 2012, he went to play for the Ontario Cricket Academy and Club in Canada for a four-month spell through the efforts of his national team coach Pubudu Dassanayake. Khadka rejoined the club for 2013 season as vice-captain. In the 2012 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier, he scored 254 runs in 8 innings at an average of 50.80.[24]
In the January 2018, he was named captain in Nepal's squad for the 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two tournament.[47] In the first match against the host Namibia national cricket team Nepal won the toss and elected to field first. Paras bowled 4 overs with his figures of 1/16. In a chase of 139, Khadka scored 19 of 35 balls. Nepal won the match by 1 wicket with 4 balls remaining.[48] The second match was with Oman national cricket team. Paras Khadka scored 17 of 42 balls as Nepal got all out in 138 runs in 46th over. Khadka bowled his spell of 0/16 in 3 overs in the match. Oman won the match by 6 wickets.[49] With one win and one loss in the tournament, the next game with UAE was crucial for Nepal. In the third match against UAE, he scored 51 runs hitting five sixes and two fours which was crucial enough to be adjudged man of the match.[50][51] With that win, Nepal had 4 points in 3 matches and was standing in the second place behind Canada.[52] In the fourth match against Kenya, he scored crucial 42 runs off 44 balls with 3 fours and 2 sixes in a low scoring contest which turned victory for Nepal.[53][54] In the fifth and final match of the ICC World Cricket League Division Two, he bowled his 7 overs spell of 0/16 in the game and got out in the very first ball.[55]
In the final match of 2018 ICC World Cricket League Division Two against UAE, he scored 112 * runs off 103 balls with 8 sixes and 3 fours in a losing cause.[56] In reply of UAE's 277 runs, Nepal scored 270/8 in stipulated 50 overs losing by 7 runs. Khadka scored his century in the final over and lost the match despite hitting 3 sixes in the final over.[57] He remained unbeaten scoring his 2nd List A century while none of his teammate scored a fifty.[58] On return to Nepal, he praised the performances of Sandeep Lamichhane and Karan KC in the last league match against Canada. He praised his teammates as:
There were new heroes in every game and that showed that every player was excited as well as determined to win matches.[59]
In the third match of Nepal's tour of the United Arab Emirates, Paras became first Nepalese batsman to score an ODI century at Dubai.[13] He was adjudged the Man of the Match where he scored 115 runs off 109 balls.[66]
In June 2019, he was named as the captain of Nepal's squad for the Regional Finals of the 2018–19 ICC T20 World Cup Asia Qualifier tournament.[67][68] In September 2019, he scored his first T20I century and became the first and only captain in men's T20I cricket to score a century as a captain when chasing.[69]
On 15 October 2019, Khadka resigned as captain of the Nepalese national cricket team. He explained that he wanted a new way of taking things forward with a fresh start and committed vision, with everyone involved, following the reinstatement of the Cricket Association of Nepal.[70]
Soon after his resignation from captaincy, Khadka was signed by Team Abu Dhabi for the 2019 T10 League. With this signing, Khadka became the 3rd Nepalese cricketer to play in a foreign franchise league, after Sandeep Lamichhane and Sompal Kami. Khadka said "It is an honour to play in this incredibly exciting tournament. I know the matches are going to be intense, but I love playing against the world's best. I'm hoping to see the Nepalese flag flying high in the stands of Zayed Cricket Stadium when I play next month." Khadka replaced Pakistanileft-arm pacerMohammad Amir, after he and other Pakistani players were ruled ineligible for the tournament by the PCB. Trevor Bayliss, head coach of Team Abu Dhabi, referred to him as an impressive player who excelled in short forms of the game, and both his batting and bowling prowess made him a threat to the opposition.[71]
In November 2019, he was also named in Nepal's squad for the cricket tournament at the 2019 South Asian Games.[72] The Nepal team won the bronze medal, after they beat the Maldives by five wickets in the third-place playoff match.[73] In September 2020, he was one of eighteen cricketers to be awarded with a central contract by the Cricket Association of Nepal.[74]
In November 2020, Khadka was nominated for the ICC Men's Associate Cricketer of the Decade award.[75]
On 3 August 2021, Khadka announced retirement from international cricket.[76][77]
Post-Retirement
Post-retirement Paras Khadka has established a cricket academy named Cricket Excellence Center working for the grassroots cricket development in Nepal. The academy is located at Baluwatar, Kathmandu which has a world-class cricketing facilities to ensure the growth of aspiring cricketers in Nepal.
Administration career
On August 14 2023, Khadka was elected as member of Kathmandu District Cricket Administration.[78] On 1 September 2023, He became the president of Bagmati Province Cricket Association of Nepal.[79] On 23 September 2023, He was elected as the secretary of the Cricket Association of Nepal.[7]
2010 boycott
In May 2010, 18 members of the national cricket team, led by Khadka, held a press conference and said they will not play the national league because of the behavior of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN).[80] He led the boycott of national league for the second time in April 2014 demanding the restructuring of Cricket Association of Nepal and better facilities for players.[81] This resulted in CAN being drawn into controversy of financial mismanagement.[82]
