Nepal facing Sri Lanka's development squad before Women's T20 Asia Cup

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, July 7: The Nepali women's cricket team is heading to Sri Lanka on Sunday to participate in the ACC Women's T20 Asia Cup scheduled from July 19 to 28. Before the tournament kicks off, Nepal will be practicing with Sri Lanka's development squad from July 9 to 16.

According to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), after training at Moors Sports Club Ground in Colombo on July 8, Nepal will play two T20 against the development squad on July 9 and 10 at Surrey Village Cricket Ground in Maggona.

Nepal's squad will then practice alone on July 11 and 12 Colombo Colts Cricket Club and rest on July 13. Followed by two more days of practice on July 14 and 15 at Moors, the third T20 against the development squad will be played on July 16 in Maggona.

The development squad primarily serves as a training ground for up-and-coming players to hone their skills and potentially transition into the national team. These squads typically consist of promising young players who have shown talent and potential in domestic cricket or junior levels.

Bidding farewell to the squad amidst a function on Saturday, National Sports Council's member-secretary Tanka Lal Ghising and CAN's secretary Paras Khadka expressed better results from the squad after the practice matches.

Head coach Manoj Katwal has been stating that the players' physical training followed by the support of a professional nutritionist will yield positive results at the Asia Cup. It is Nepal's third time in the tournament; however, Nepal has not won a single match in the tournament yet.

Eight Asian countries are participating in the tournament. They have been divided into two groups of four each. Nepal is in Group A with India, Pakistan and the UAE while the host Sri Lanka is in Group B with Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand.

The top two teams from each group after competing in a single round-robin format will qualify for the semifinals.