KATHMANDU: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced Nepal’s squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup under the captaincy of Rohit Paudel, but the exclusion of several high-profile players has sparked criticism on social media.
Power-hitter Kushal Malla, widely regarded as one of Nepal’s most destructive batters in the shorter format, has failed to secure a place in the final squad. His omission has drawn sharp reactions from fans, many of whom have questioned CAN’s selection criteria.
Wicketkeeper-batter Binod Bhandari, who delivered strong performances in both seasons of the Nepal Premier League (NPL), has also been left out. Similarly, Ahab Alam, another consistent performer in domestic cricket, did not make the cut. Mohammad Adil Alam, who had recently made a comeback to the national side, has also been excluded from the World Cup squad.
Abinash Bohara, who impressed with his performances in the NPL, was another notable absentee. Although CAN had included all these players in the closed training camp ahead of the squad announcement, none of them were selected in the final lineup.
Following the announcement, social media platforms were flooded with criticism, with many fans arguing that players who performed well in domestic tournaments deserved a place in the World Cup team. CAN, however, has not publicly commented on the specific reasons behind the exclusions.
Nepal will compete in the T20 World Cup with a focus on balancing experience and form, as the team looks to make a strong impression on the global stage despite the controversial omissions.
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