In a much-anticipated announcement, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is set to reveal the lineup for the Nepal A cricket team in upcoming days, and the speculated list has already generated significant buzz among cricket enthusiasts. Here is the list of 15 players predicted by the Cardiac Kids Nepal’s team to join the Nepal A team.
Aashutosh Ghiraiya: The Obvious Choice
Aashutosh Ghiraiya, the dynamic opening batter from Bagmati Province, has emerged as a standout performer in the Prime Minister Cup. His impressive tally of 382 runs in just 9 innings at an average of 42.44 showcases his ability to anchor the innings effectively. Ghiraiya’s century and two fifties, coupled with a striking strike rate of 89, make him an obvious choice at the top of the order.
Arjun Kumal: The Resiliant Opener
Arjun Kumal, a consistent performer for the Nepal U19 team, has displayed remarkable resilience under pressure. His standout performances, including a crucial 91 against Afghanistan in the U19 Asia Cup and a valiant 90 against New Zealand in the U19 World Cup, illustrate his ability to thrive in challenging situations. Kumal’s consistent runs with the bat and composure under pressure will make him a valuable asset for the A team and we think he will make the Nepal ‘A’ team for the 50 overs game.
Anil Sah, Mayan Yadav, and Pawan Sarraf: Madhesh Trio to make the Squad
The trio of Anil Sah, Mayan Yadav, and Pawan Sarraf has been exceptional in the recent Prime Minister Cup. Anil Sah leads the run charts with 386 runs, while Pawan Sarraf’s all-around brilliance, amassing 329 runs with a 41.12 average, demands attention. Mayan Yadav’s contributions add depth to the batting lineup, making the Madhesh players an integral part of the predicted A team. Anil Sah may even get the nod in the senior national side but right now we think Arjun Saud will continue to occupy the backup wicket keeper role and Anil Sah will be the wicket keeper of Nepal ‘A’ side. Pawan Sarraf is to conistent on the domestic circuit to ignore him from Nepal ‘A’ setup and this maybe a opportunity for him to do better on a bigger setup whereas young Mayan Yadav has performed so consistently in the middle order during the PM Cup. So, we predict this trio to make the Nepal ‘A’ side.
Binod Bhandari: National Team or Nepal ‘A’ ?
While one may argue that Nepal ‘A’ side should be young and made up of future stars, the veteran presence of Binod Bhandari cannot be overlooked, especially after his instrumental role in leading his team to the PM Cup final. With the highest average among the top 10 run-getters and a commendable leadership role, Bhandari brings experience to the A team. He is second highest run scorer of the PM Cup 2080 with 351 runs in just 9 innings. As we think Nepal’s senior side is stacked at the moment, Binod Bhandari might return to Nepal ‘A’ side for the 50 overs matches.
Dev Khanal: U19 Captain’s chance to shine on bigger stage
Dev Khanal, the captain of the U19 team, has showcased his batting skills in the U19 World Cup, emerging as the highest run-scorer for Nepal. Khanal’s ability to lead from the front and his impressive mindset make him a bright prospect for the future of Nepali cricket. While Dev may be a contendor for the senior side too, we think he will first have to prove himself on the ‘A’ side and this will be a step for him towards the senior side.
Rit Gautam: The Leader of Nepal ‘A’?
While Rit Gautam might not have been the best batters of the PM Cup this season, he have led his side brilliantly and finished third in the table just missing out on final. Rit has scored 223 runs at an average of 24.77 in this tournament but he has often got good starts and failed to convert. Rit is a player who has been looked as a future star from a long time but unfortunately, he have struggled to climb the ladder as expected. We think that Rit will be included in the Nepal ‘A’ side and he will get a chance to prove himself for the bigger stage. Rit’s aggressive captaincy has caught the eye of many and he alongisde Dev Khanal might be looked as the leader of Nepal ‘A’ side if Binod Bhandari donot feature on the Nepal ‘A’ side.
Sher Malla, Shahab Alam, and Sagar Dhakal: The Spinners of Nepal ‘A’ side
Sher Malla and Shahab Alam have been standout performers in the PM Cup 2080, with Malla claiming 24 wickets and Alam taking 23 wickets. Sagar Dhakal’s impressive 19 wickets in 10 innings for the champions Nepal Police Club can’t be overlooked too. These names have been the ones who have been in radar for a long time. Sher Malla with his right arm mystery spin is surely getting in Nepal ‘A’ side whereas Shahab’s consistent numbers on domestic circuit will also get him a Nepal ‘A’ callup. Sagar Dhakal is constantly in and out of the senior squad and his recent numbers will also get him the callup.
Rijan Dhakal, Rashid Khan, and Rupesh Singh: Fast Bowlers and All Rounders
Rijan Dhakal, a rare left-arm medium-pacer from Bagmati, has contributed not only with the ball but also with his energetic fielding, makes him a valuable asset and the all-around abilities of Rashid Khan and Rupesh Singh, add versatility to the predicted A team. Rijan Dhakal has been very good in the PM Cup and his left arm medium pace is likely to get the selectors attention. Rashid Khan scored a century in PM cup and has bowled well too. Rupesh Singh from Madhesh has been consistent in the domestic circuit with both ball and bat which features him on our predicted list of Nepal ‘A’ side.
Aakash Chand: U19 Bowling Sensation
Aakash Chand, with his aggressive fast bowling, has proven to be a bowling sensation in the U19 World Cup. His impressive spell against Afghanistan and nine wickets in just five innings showcase his potential to become a key figure in the bowling department. He is an obvious choice for Nepal ‘A’ side and only a few can argue that.
Prospects in Waiting: Naren Bhatta, Kiran Thagunna, Sujan Thapaliya, Subash Bhandari, Bipin Khatri, and Narayan Joshi
Naren Bhatta from Sudurpaschim has emerged as a promising batsman, scoring 267 runs in 8 innings in the Prime Minister Cup 2024. Kiran Thagunna, known for his explosive batting style, contributed 284 runs with a stellar strike rate of 103.6, showcasing adaptability in various match situations. Subash Bhandari’s all-round brilliance in the U19 World Cup, particularly his five-wicket haul against Bangladesh U19, positions him as a versatile player. Bipin Khatri’s consistent wicket-taking abilities, securing 20 wickets in 9 innings during the PM Cup, make him a valuable asset for the bowling lineup. Narayan Joshi, a dual threat with both bat and ball, took 10 wickets and scored 186 runs at an average of 37.20, exhibiting his all-round potential. Sujan Thapaliya has been a lone warrior for Koshi in PM Cup and he will also be in the mix while the Nepal ‘A’ side is formed. Bibek Yadav, Lokesh Bam could be the other names that may be included in the Nepal ‘A’ side to see their 50 over games. These emerging talents signify a promising future for Nepali cricket beyond the current A-team predictions.
Cardiac Kids Nepal Predicted Nepal ‘A’ side: Aashutosh Ghiraiya, Arjun Kumal, Anil Kumar Sah (wk), Binod Bhandari (wk), Dev Khanal, Rit Gautam, Pawan Sarraf, Mayan Yadav, Sher Malla, Shahab Alam, Sagar Dhakal, Rijan Dhakal, Rashid Khan, Rupesh Singh, Aakash Chand.
Cardiac Kids Nepal Predicted Nepal Mens Senior Team: Rohit Paudel (c), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Surya Tamang, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Sundeep Jora, Arjun Saud
As the Nepali cricket circuit eagerly awaits the official announcement from CAN, the speculated Nepal A team promises a perfect blend of experience and youth, skill and flair. These players have not only excelled individually but have also showcased the collective strength of Nepali cricket, giving fans a reason to be optimistic about the future of the sport in the nation.
Disclaimer Note: The squads mentioned above are purely speculative and have been formulated by the Cardiac Kids Nepal Team for informative purposes only. These predicted squads are not official, and in no way should be considered as authenticated or endorsed by any official cricketing authority. Actual squad compositions may vary, and we recommend relying on official announcements from the relevant cricket boards or teams for accurate and verified information.
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