Nepal Set for Historic Return to ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

After a decade-long wait, Nepal is all set to make a historic return to the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024. The team, brimming with youthful exuberance and seasoned by extensive preparations, is led by Rohit Paudel, the youngest captain in the history of the T20 World Cup. Adding to the excitement, the squad features the youngest player in the event, Gulshan Jha. Here’s a detailed look at the squad, their preparation, and expectations for the tournament:

Nepal Squad for ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2024

The squad features a blend of emerging talents and experienced campaigners. Notably, Sompal Kami is the only player from Nepal’s last T20 World Cup appearance and will spearhead the pace attack.

Top Order:

Kushal Bhurtel: Known for his aggressive batting at the top.
Rohit Paudel (Captain): The youngest captain ever in T20 World Cup history.
Aasif Sheikh and Anil Sah: The wicketkeeping duo providing flexibility and depth in batting.

Middle Order:

Gulshan Jha: The youngest player in the tournament, expected to make a significant impact.
Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Jora, Kushal Malla: Form the backbone of the middle order with their versatile batting skills.

Lower Order:

Sompal Kami: Leading the pace attack and providing stability in the lower order.
Karan KC, Pratis GC, Abinash Bohara, Kamal Singh Airee: Bolstering the pace department.
Sagar Dhakal, Lalit Rajbanshi: Handling spin duties with expertise.

Probable XI:

Kushal Bhurtel
Aasif Sheikh (wk)
Rohit Paudel (c)
Gulshan Jha
Sandeep Jora
Kushal Malla
Dipendra Singh Airee
Sompal Kami
Karan KC
Abinash Bohara
Sagar Dhakal

Preparation for the Tournament

Since qualifying for the World Cup, Nepal has been actively involved in various cricketing activities:

Series against Canada and participation in League 2 fixtures.
Hosting a tri-series with the Netherlands and Namibia, followed by a tri-series in Hong Kong.
Matches against Ireland Wolves in Nepal.
Tri-series in India against Indian state teams.
Participation in the ACC Premier Cup in Oman.
Hosting West Indies A in Nepal and playing matches against local sides in the Caribbean and the USA.
Official warm-up matches, including a rain-affected game against the USA and a match against Canada on the same ground where they will face the Netherlands.

History Against Opponents

Netherlands: Played 12 T20Is against each other, with Nepal winning 5 and the Netherlands winning 6. One match was washed out. This year, they played 3 matches, with the Netherlands winning 2 and Nepal winning 1.
Bangladesh: Nepal played its second official T20I match against Bangladesh in 2014 and lost by 9 wickets.
Sri Lanka and South Africa: Nepal will face these teams for the first time in T20Is.

Expectations

Nepali fans have high hopes for the team, aiming for a strong performance against tough opponents. Being in the “group of death,” the team’s target is to reach the next round of the tournament. The first match against the Netherlands is crucial, and a win could boost their chances of advancing to the Super 8.