By a Staff Reporter
Kathmandu – Youth spinner Manisha Upadhyay has been included for the first time in the final squad of Nepal for the upcoming ACC Women’s T20 Championship to be held in Malaysia from Friday.
Cricket Association of Nepal has announced a 15-member team headed by Rubina Chhetri Belbase.
Middle-order batswoman Sarita Magar has been left out of the team. Sarita Magar and Hiranmayee Roy, who featured in Nepal’s team against Uganda last month, have been left out this time. Roy could not play in the championship as she could not acquire travel document. CAN selected Manisha Upadhyay in Roy’s place.
Manisha Upadhyay plays domestic cricket from Gandaki Province. Gandaki Province had won the U-19 National Women’s Cricket under her leadership two months ago. She also left a good impression during the recently held ICC U-19 Wolen’s T20 World Cup Asia Qualifiers. She got an opportunity to join the national team due to the unavailability of Hiranmayee Roy who has also performed exceptionally well in recent tournaments.
Meanwhile, all-rounder Mamta Chaudhary has made a comeback in the national team. The Women’s T20 Championship kicks off in Malaysia from Friday. Nepal is drawn in Group B along with Hong Kong, Kuwait, Bhutan and Bahrain. Group A includes the UAE, Malaysia, Oman, Qatar and Singapore. The two teams that make it to the final will get an opportunity to compete in the Asia Cup.
Nepali Women’s Cricket Team:
Rubina Chhetri Belbase (Captain), Indu Berma (Vice Captain), Sita Rana Magar, Jyoti Pandey, Kabita Kunwar, Ashmina Karmacharya, Kabita Joshi, Mamta Chaudhary, Dolly Bhatt, Bindu Rawal, Sangita Rai, Apsari Begum, Kajol Shrestha (wicketkeeper) and Sabnam Rai.
Nepal’s Fixtures
June 17 – Nepal Vs Bhutan
June 18 – Nepal Vs Kuwait
June 20 – Nepal Vs Bahrain
June 21 – Nepal Vs Hong Kong
June 25 –Semifinal
June 25 – Final
