By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has bade farewell to the national cricket team of Nepal for its practice match in Sri Lanka followed by the ICC World Cup League-2 ODI tri-series in the UAE.
The cricket governing body of Nepal bade farewell to the team amid a programme on Friday. The national cricket team of Nepal is all set to leave for Sri Lanka on Saturday to play four practice matches. After a one-week stay in Sri Lanka, the team will fly to the UAE on March 14. CAN’s acting secretary Prashant Bikram Malla, treasurer Roshan Singh and Sports Minister Maheshwar Jung Gahatraj extended best wishes to the team during the farewell function.
Nepal will play the first practice match against Sri Lanka Sasasta Force on March 7 followed by another match against the same team on March 8. Nepal will then face Sri Lanka Police on March 10 and then play against the top 11 players of the country on March 11.
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.
