Nepal’s national men’s cricket team is set to play in a four-nation T20I series in Hong Kong starting April 9. The team, coached by former captain Gyanendra Malla, will face Hong Kong, Kuwait, and Qatar in the round-robin tournament. The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) confirmed that Malla will lead the squad for this tour.
This short tournament will be held at the Tin Kwong Road Recreation Ground. Two matches will be played daily, with a break day in between. The final and third-place match will take place on April 13.
Gyanendra Malla Steps in as Interim Coach
Gyanendra Malla, currently the head coach of Nepal’s A team, has been appointed as the interim head coach for this series. The senior team had no head coach after Monty Desai left in February. Although Australian coach Stuart Law has been hired for the position, he will officially take charge after this series.
“Law will start training the players selected for the CWC League 2 camp once the team returns from Hong Kong,” said CAN spokesperson Chhumbi Lama. “Malla has been working with the senior team since the PM Cup and will stay on until the series ends.”
Nepal’s Track Record Against Rivals
Nepal goes into the series as the top-ranked T20I team among the four. But past results show that none of the matches will be easy.
🇭🇰 Against Hong Kong
Nepal and Hong Kong have faced each other 11 times in T20 Internationals since 2014. Both teams have five wins, and one match was abandoned. Nepal recently played in a tri-series in Hong Kong in March 2023. They lost a friendly match to the hosts, and their official match was canceled due to rain.
🇰🇼 Against Kuwait
Nepal and Kuwait have played only once in T20Is. That match took place during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Region Final in July 2019, where Nepal won by seven wickets.
🇶🇦 Against Qatar
Nepal has a mixed history with Qatar. In their first T20I meeting, Nepal lost by four wickets. However, they bounced back in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup in April 2023, winning by 32 runs.
Match Schedule and Broadcast Details
The series will follow a round-robin format. Each team will play three matches. The top two teams will face off in the final, while the other two will compete for third place.
Here is the complete fixture list:
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April 9: Nepal vs Qatar, Hong Kong vs Kuwait
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April 10: Nepal vs Kuwait, Hong Kong vs Qatar
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April 11: Rest Day
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April 12: Nepal vs Hong Kong, Kuwait vs Qatar
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April 13: Final and Third-place match
All matches will be live-streamed on Cricket Hong Kong’s official YouTube channel and Styx Sports. Nepal’s first two matches will start at 6:45 AM Nepali time, and the final group-stage match against Hong Kong will start at 11:15 AM Nepali time.
Squad Led by Rohit Paudel
CAN announced a 14-member squad on Saturday. Rohit Kumar Paudel will lead the team. The squad includes a strong mix of batters, spinners, and fast bowlers.
Nepal’s squad:
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Rohit Kumar Paudel (Captain)
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Kushal Bhurtel
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Dipendra Singh Airee
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Kushal Malla
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Lokesh Bam
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Basir Ahmad
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Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi (left-arm spin)
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Shahab Alam (left-arm spin)
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Karan KC (pace)
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Sompal Kami (pace)
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Rijan Dhakal (pace)
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Gulshan Kumar Jha
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Nandak Kumar Yadav
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Coach: Gyanendra Malla
The team features experienced all-rounders like Airee and Malla, along with new talents like Rijan Dhakal and Nandak Yadav.
A Crucial Test Before CWC League 2
This tournament will be an important opportunity for the Nepali team to prepare ahead of the CWC League 2. The new head coach, Stuart Law, is expected to bring global experience, but until then, Malla’s leadership will be crucial in shaping the team’s momentum.
Nepal’s fans will be hoping for a strong performance that can boost the team’s confidence before they take on bigger challenges ahead.
