Nepal aim to qualify for T20 World Cup

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Oct.30: National cricket team captain Rohit Kumar Poudel said that Nepal’s only goal is to qualify for the T20 World Cup which will be held in the USA and West Indies next year. 

The World Cup Qualifier will be held at TU Cricket Ground and Upper Mulpani Cricket Ground from October 30 to November 5.

During a press conference held on Sunday to inform about the Qualifiers, Skipper Poudel said that the team's batting has been good for the last six months. "Our main goal is to forget the previous matches and focus on upcoming games. Besides, playing a qualifier at the home ground is a great opportunity for Nepal. 

“We have not taken any team lightly. Our only aim is to qualify for the World Cup. All the players are expected to bank on their experience to qualify for the World Cup.”

Nepal will begin their campaign by playing against Singapore at TU Cricket Ground on Monday. Nepal is clubbed with Singapore, Oman and Malaysia in Group A. Group B consists of the UAE, Bahrain, Hong Kong and Kuwait. 

Nepal’s second match will be against Malaysia on October 31 and they will take on Oman in their third outing on November 2. The top two teams from each group will advance to the semifinals to be held on November 3. The final will be held on November 5.

Similarly, Coach Monty Desai said that no team should take their opponents as weak. “Nepali team will move ahead improving the weakness in the qualifiers. Currently, the Nepali team is in good form.” He added that he would focus on one game at a time, as all games are important to him.

Nepal has already announced their squad for the qualifiers. Sandeep Lamichhane, who did not play in the Triangular T20I Series, has been named in the final squad. 

Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Airee, Sundeep Jora, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Abinash Bohara, Pratish GC, Bibek Yadav, Lalit Rajbanshi and Binod Bhandari are continued in the squad.