Nepal has named their 17-person team for this year’s Asia Cup, which will be held in Pakistan and Sri Lanka. Young all-rounder Rohit Paudel will lead the team.
Paudel helped Nepal get into the Asia Cup in 2023 by winning the ACC Premier Cup earlier this year. The 20-year-old is now in charge of leading the country again on the big stage.
At the Asia Cup, Nepal will play both Pakistan and India. Paudel’s team was put in Group A with these two cricket powerhouses.
Nepal’s team didn’t have any big shocks. Uncapped spinner Mousom Dhakal and young hitter Sundeep Jora are both in the running to play after missing out on the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe in June.
Nepal’s hitting lineup isn’t very experienced, but Bhim Sharki, Gulshan Jha, and Paudel will lead the way. Spinners Lalit Rajbanshi and Sandeep Lamichhane will be counted on to slow down the other team’s hitters.
It’s the first time Nepal has picked a team without Gyanendra Malla since the former captain retired earlier this month.
Nepal’s first game of the event is against Pakistan on August 30 in Multan. On September 4, they play India in Kandy. The top two teams in each group then move on to the next round, called “Super 4s.”
Nepal didn’t make it to the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup this year, but teams like Pakistan and India will use the Asia Cup as a good warm-up before the 50-over showdown later this year.
Nepal will have a week-long camp in Pakistan to get ready for the Asia Cup.
Rohit Paudel (captain), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Mousom Dhakal, Sundeep Jora, Kishore Mahato, Arjun Saud.