KATHMANDU: The latest triangular series of the Cricket World Cup League Two starts in Kathmandu on Wednesday. The competition forms part of the qualifying process for the 2023 World Cup in India. Hosts Nepal will be making their debut in the new league, with all of the other six sides – including UAE – having already played two series each.
The hosts will start their debut campaign against Oman, while the United States, who currently top the table after eight matches, are the third side in the series.
Nepal
This is Nepal’s first one-day international series on home soil. They have only played two bilateral series previously, having attained full status in 2018 – and they are yet to be beaten over the course of a series.
They drew with the Netherlands in their debut series in Amstelveen in 2018, thanks to the sort of nerve-shredding, one-run, last-ball win that has become this team’s stock in trade.
They also came back from losing the first match in Dubai last year to beat UAE 2-1.
Key player: Paras Khadka
The great statesman of Nepal cricket passed on the captaincy to his close friend Gyanendra Malla last year, after more than a decade of service. Armband or no armband, Khadka, who played for Team Abu Dhabi in the T10 League in December, remains Nepal’s most reliable source for runs.
Watch out for: Sandeep Lamichhane
The leg-spinner left Australia’s Big Bash League, where he is a mainstay of the Melbourne Stars bowling attack, to be present for this series. Still only 19, Lamichhane has clocked up a massive amount of air miles during his rise to prominence after selection for Delhi Daredevils – now known as the Capitals – in IPL 2018.
Oman
Zeeshan Maqsood’s side had a chance of going level with the United States at the top of the WCL2 table last month, only for the final two matches of their home series against UAE and Namibia to be postponed.
The home team had started that series in Muscat in resounding fashion, as they easily beat UAE in the first ODI.
After losing to Namibia, their final two matches against the same opposition were called off as the country mourned the death of Sultan Qaboos Bin Said. The ICC plans to rearrange the fixtures.
Key player: Bilal Khan
The left-arm seamer is one of the leading strike-bowlers in Associate cricket, as he showed in taking the most wickets of anyone at the T20 World Cup Qualifier last year.
“Bilal is becoming a real weapon in our side,” Duleep Mendis, Oman’s coach, said last month. “I feel he should be playing at a higher level.”
Watch out for: Jatinder Singh
The India-born opener celebrates batting milestones in a similar Kabbadi-inspired fashion to that made famous by Shikhar Dhawan.
In recent times, that routine has been spotted regularly. He scored a half-century in the win over UAE last month, and played a vital role in Oman making it to the T20 World Cup later this year, too.
United States
A relatively unknown quantity before the new competition started, United States are flying high now, having won six of their first eight matches.
Much of the foundations for that success were put in place by someone who would have been well-placed to provide some vital local knowledge for the trip to Nepal.
Pubudu Dassanayake worked wonders during a long spell in charge of Nepal. He then appeared to be doing similar with America, only to resign last summer, after a raft of changes within USA cricket.
Key player: Saurabh Netravalkar
If the wickets at Tribhuvan University are anything like those in Dubai and Sharjah were in December, then USA’s left-arm swing-bowling captain will be a real threat.
He does not have the pace of Rusty Theron, Cameron Stevenson, or the absent Ali Khan, but he is a constant threat with the new ball.
Watch out for: Steven Taylor
The great enigma of United States cricket. Arguably the country’s most talented player, as a left-handed batsman of serious power, a handy off-spinner, and a natural athlete in the field.
However, he has also fallen foul of authority, too. He should have a point to prove in Nepal, having been stood down from the vice-captaincy on account of discipline issues on tour in UAE in December.
Fixtures
Wednesday February 5, Oman v Nepal
Thursday, February 6, Oman v United States
Saturday, February 8, United States v Nepal
Sunday, February 9, Oman v Nepal
Tuesday, February 11, Oman v United States
Wednesday, February 12, United States v Nepal
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