KATHMANDU: The Nepali national cricket team will begin a T20 series against the United Arab Emirates (UAE) at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur from Monday.
The series marks the formal introduction of a new structure in Nepali cricket, where different captains will lead the team in different formats.
In the absence of regular captain Rohit Paudel and several senior players, all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee will lead the side. The squad, featuring a mix of young and experienced players, is expected to usher in a new phase for Nepal in T20 cricket.
Nepal and UAE are meeting again after two and a half years. Out of their 11 T20 encounters so far, only one match has been played at Kirtipur, which the UAE won.
The current series places significant emphasis on youth development, alongside experienced names such as Sandeep Lamichhane and Kushal Bhurtel. Young players including Santosh Yadav, Hemanta Dhami, and Nandan Yadav are also expected to get opportunities.
The match, scheduled to start at 5 pm on Monday, will be played under floodlights. Meanwhile, the UAE side has yet to officially announce its squad, although captain Muhammad Waseem, Alishan Sharafu, and Junaid Siddique have already arrived in Nepal. The visiting team is also expected to test new players in the series.
The Cricket Association of Nepal has arranged ticket sales through the Khalti app, anticipating strong local turnout for the series, which is expected to generate significant interest among domestic fans.
Nepali squad
Dipendra Singh Airee (captain), Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Sandeep Jora, Arif Sheikh, Bashir Ahmed, Gulshan Jha, Lokesh Bam, Nandan Yadav, Santosh Yadav, Arjun Saud, Hemant Dhami, Shahab Alam, Sher Malla. Reserves: Pratish GC, Narayan Joshi, Rashid Khan.
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