By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced the final squad of Nepal headed by Sandeep Lamichhane for the ODI tri-series under the ICC World Cup League-2 to be held in the UAE after two weeks. Nepal will play against the UAE and Papua New Guinea during the tri-series.
The final squad includes fast bowler Sompal Kami, Bikram Sob, Bhim Sarki and Binod Bhandari. Fast bowler Gulshan Jha and spinner Sushan Bhari have been left out of the final squad. The Nepali national cricket team is heading towards Sri Lanka on Saturday to play four practice matches against the local teams of the island nation ahead of the tri-series.
Nepal will reach the UAE on March 14 to compete against the UAE and Papua New Guinea under the World Cup League-2 from March 16 to March 22. Following the ODI tri-series, Nepal will host Papua New Guinea and Malaysia at its home ground fir a T20I tri-series.
Nepal is sixth in the ICC World Cup League =2 with four wins and four losses in eight matches. The World Cup League-2 will run until 2023 and the top three teams in the league will directly qualify for the ODI World Cup to be held in the same year. Other four teams will have to compete in the play-off to secure a place in the ODI World Cup.
Final squad:
Sandeep Lamichhane Captain), Gyanendra Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Kushal Bhurtel, Aarif Sheikh, Aasif Sheikh, Kamal Singh Airee, Bivek Yadav, Sagar Dhakal, Karan KC, Binod Bhandari, Rohit Kumar Poudel, Sompal Kami, Bikram Sob, Bhim Sarki, Pawan Sharaff.
Nepal’s Match Schedule:
March 16: Vs Papua New Guinea, Sharjah Cricket Stadium
March 18: Vs UAE, Dubai International Cricket Stadium
March 21: Vs UAE, Dubai
March 22: Vs Papua New Guinea, Dubai
Points Table
Oman leads the table with 30 points from 23 matches including 15 wins and 7 losses. Scotland is second with 16 points from 12 matches that includes 7 wins and 3 losses. USA is third with 7 wins and 9 defeats from 16 matches. The UAE is fourth with 12 points from 10 matches (5 wins and 3 defeats). Naminia is fifth with 10 points from 9 matches. Nepal is sixth with 8 points from 8 matches including 4 wins and 4 defeats. Papua New Guinea is last with 12 defeats in 12 matches.
