KATHMANDU: The Nepal national cricket team is departing for Australia today to take part in the Top End T20 cricket series from August 14 to 24, marking the first time Nepal will compete in the tournament.
The farewell program was organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Sunday, with National Sports Council Member Secretary Tanka Lal Ghising, CAN President Chatur Bahadur Chand, and Secretary Paras Khadka among those present to bid the team goodbye.
The 11-team competition will feature Nepal, Pakistan Shaheens (Pakistan ‘A’), Bangladesh ‘A’, USA’s Chicago Kingsmen, five Big Bash League academy sides – Hobart Hurricanes, Perth Scorchers, Adelaide Strikers, Melbourne Stars, and Melbourne Renegades – along with ACT Comets and local side Northern Territory Strike.
Nepal will play six league matches:
- Aug 15: vs Northern Territory Strike
- Aug 16: vs Bangladesh ‘A’
- Aug 18: vs Melbourne Stars
- Aug 19: vs Hobart Hurricanes
- Aug 20: vs Melbourne Renegades
- Aug 22: vs Pakistan Shaheens
The top four teams after the league stage will qualify for the semifinals, followed by the final. If Nepal reaches the final, it will play a total of eight matches.
Speaking at the farewell and jersey sponsorship signing ceremony, captain Rohit Paudel said the Australia tour would be a crucial preparation for the ICC T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia-Pacific Qualifiers in October.
“We are going to Australia tomorrow. The tour will be a build-up for the T20 World Cup Qualifiers. The teams in Australia are strong, Big Bash sides, Pakistan ‘A’ and Bangladesh ‘A’. This will help us prepare well for the qualifiers,” said Paudel, adding that the squad is in good shape following a 15-day camp in Bengaluru.
The team is aiming to qualify for its third T20 World Cup, with the Asia and EAP qualifiers scheduled for October 8–17 in Oman. Nepal will face Kuwait and Japan in the group stage. The top two from each of the three groups will advance to the Super Six, and the top three from that stage will qualify for the 2026 T20 World Cup.
CAN Secretary Paras Khadka expressed confidence that Nepal would qualify for the next T20 World Cup without another decade-long wait. CAN President Chatur Bahadur Chand urged the players to make full use of the opportunity to play against quality opposition, while Head Coach Stuart Law noted that the different playing conditions in Australia would provide valuable experience ahead of the qualifiers.
Nepal squad: Rohit Paudel (captain), Dipendra Singh Airee (vice-captain), Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Gulshan Jha, Aarif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki, Rupesh Kumar Singh, Sompal Kami, Nandan Kumar Yadav, Karan KC, Rijan Dhakal, Lokesh Bam, Shahab Alam.
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