Nepal gear up for League 2 Tri-Series in Scotland

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, June 2: Nepal is gearing up for its fourth cycle of the ICC World Cup League 2 triangular series in Scotland, starting Monday (June 2). The Rhinos will take on hosts Scotland and the Netherlands in a double-header tri-series. Nepal begins its campaign against Scotland in the tournament opener on Monday.

This will mark Nepal's return to longer-format cricket after a seven-month hiatus. Their last white-ball clash was against Scotland on November 4, 2024, in the United States, but the match was washed out due to rain.

Currently, Nepal sits at the bottom of the League 2 standings with six points from 12 matches. They have secured two wins and suffered eight losses, while two matches ended with shared points due to rain interruptions. The team will be eager to climb up the points table with strong performances against Scotland and the Netherlands.

Scotland holds fourth place with 20 points from 16 matches, while the Netherlands sits in second place with 26 points from 20 games. Nepal’s upcoming fixtures will be crucial in their bid to improve their position in League 2.

The series also marks the beginning of Stuart Law’s tenure as Nepal’s head coach. Additionally, the Cricket Association of Nepal has appointed South African Nick Pothas as a consultant coach for the Scotland series. Historically, Nepal has won four out of eight One-Day Internationals (ODIs) against Scotland. The hosts have triumphed in three encounters, while one match was abandoned.

In preparation for the League 2 matches, Nepal played two warm-up games against Scotland’s ‘A’ team. They lost the first match by 102 runs, while the second was called off due to rain. Nepal also played training matches against county teams in the United Kingdom to get accustomed to the grassy pitches in Scotland.

League 2 features a battle among eight teams. The top four will secure a spot in the global qualifiers for the ICC World Cup 2027, while the bottom four will have to fight through the playoffs.

Following the League 2 matches, a T20 tri-series featuring the same teams will take place in Glasgow from June 15-20.

Nepal will participate in two League 2 triangular series this year, including one on home turf.

The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has unveiled the national squad, with Rohit Kumar Paudel leading as captain. The squad includes Dipendra Singh Airee, Aasif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Anil Kumar Sah, Bhim Sharki, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Nandan Yadav, Rijan Dhakal.