Kathmandu, April 23: Preparations for the ICC Men’s One-Day Cricket World Cup League 2 tri-series featuring Nepal, United Arab Emirates, and Oman have entered the final stage, with matches set to begin on Saturday.
The series, a crucial step in the race for qualification to the ICC Cricket World Cup, will be played on home soil. Nepal will take on the UAE in the opening match on April 25 at 9:30 am. The UAE will then face Oman on April 27, followed by Nepal’s clash against Oman on April 29.
All matches will be held at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground. According to the Cricket Association of Nepal, tickets will be available via the Khalti app, with sales opening from 7 pm on Thursday.
Nepal heads into the series under pressure, having managed just five wins from 20 matches and collecting 12 points, placing second from the bottom in the standings. The UAE sits at the bottom with 10 points from 20 matches, while Oman holds a stronger third position with 29 points from 24 games.
The Cricket Association of Nepal has announced a 15-member squad led by captain Rohit Paudel, with Dipendra Singh Airee as vice-captain. Key players include Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Aarif Sheikh, Bashir Ahmad, Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Binod Bhandari, Nandan Yadav, Arjun Kumal, and Karan KC.
Experienced bowlers such as Sompal Kami, Karan KC, and Sandeep Lamichhane are expected to play key roles, while Binod Bhandari returns to the national squad. Young batter Arjun Kumal has also earned a spot in the squad.
Reserve players include Hemant Dhami, Sher Malla, Rijaan Dhakal, Ishan Pandey, and Dev Khanal.
With crucial points at stake, the upcoming tri-series offers Nepal a key opportunity to improve its standing and strengthen its chances in the World Cup qualification pathway. #nepal #cricket
