Nepal women depart for ICC Challenge Trophy in Rwanda

By A Staff Reporter,Kathmandu, Apr. 16: Nepal’s national women’s cricket team left for Rwanda on Wednesday to compete in the ICC Women’s Challenge Trophy.

The tournament runs from 18 April to 1 May at Kigali’s Gahanga Cricket Stadium. Nepal join the USA, Vanuatu, Italy and hosts Rwanda in the Twenty20 event. It is Nepal’s first trip to Rwanda.

The competition will be played on a double round‑robin basis, with the top side crowned champions. This is the ICC’s first women’s Challenge Trophy. Nepal open against the USA on 18 April and will play eight matches in total.

Captain Indu Barma returns after recovering from injury sustained in January’s ICC Women’s T20 Global Qualifiers against Scotland. She missed the Women’s Asia Cup Rising Stars, with Puja Mahato leading in her absence.

Barma told reporters she is fully fit and confident. “The team is strong and ready for good results. We have improved tactically under the foreign coach. Players are handling pressure better, especially the youngsters. Everyone knows their role, from opening to bowling in powerplay and death overs.”

Head coach Harshal Pathak said Barma’s comeback has boosted the squad. “Training is complete. We worked on batting, bowling, fielding and tactical awareness, preparing for match scenarios,” he said.

The Cricket Association of Nepal announced the 14‑member squad on Monday: Indu Barma (captain), Puja Mahato (vice‑captain), Bindu Rawal, Samjhana Khadka, Rubi Poddar, Kabita Joshi, Kabita Kunwar, Riya Sharma, Roma Thapa, Suman Bist, Anu Kadayat, Manisha Upadhyaya, Rubina Chhetri and Rachana Chaudhary.

CAN member Dhirendra Saud bid farewell to the team, handing the national flag to captain Barma.