Tag: Nepal

KATHMANDU: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has revealed the 15-member squad for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka, with experienced all-rounder Rohit Paudel named captain.

Paudel, who will be leading Nepal in their second T20 World Cup appearance, will be supported by fellow all-rounder Dipendra Singh Airee as vice-captain.

The squad features a strong spin contingent led by Sandeep Lamichhane, accompanied by left-arm spinner Lalit Rajbanshi, with Airee and Basir Ahamad providing additional spin options.

All-rounders form the core of Nepal’s line-up, with Gulshan Jha, Aarif Sheikh, and Sompal Kami adding depth to both batting and bowling.

The batting unit is anchored by Kushal Bhurtel at the top, with Aasif Sheikh, Lokesh Bam, Sundeep Jora, and Nandan Yadav rounding out a flexible middle and lower order.

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Nepal’s pace attack will be led by Sompal Kami and Karan KC, supported by Nandan Yadav and Sher Malla, giving the side a balanced bowling attack across formats.

For the unversed, Nepal are drawn in Group C and will open their campaign against two-time champions England at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium on February 8.

Their remaining group-stage fixtures, against Italy, West Indies, and Bangladesh, will also take place at the same venue on February 12, 15, and 17.

Nepal made their T20 World Cup debut in 2024 in the tournament co-hosted by the West Indies and the USA but failed to advance past the group stage, losing all four of their matches.

Nepal squad for T20 World Cup 2026

Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Aarif Sheikh, Basir Ahamad, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sher Malla and Lokesh Bam.

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Nepal and Oman have officially sealed their spots for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after confirming top-three finishes in the Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier on Wednesday.

Both teams, unbeaten so far in the qualifiers, have now joined the lineup for next year’s 20-team mega event, which will be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka.

Their confirmed qualification comes ahead of their much-anticipated Super Six clash on Thursday.

Oman currently sit atop the standings, narrowly ahead of Nepal on net run rate, with both sides boasting three wins from as many completed matches.

Nepal entered the Super Six stage carrying two points and went on to edge out both the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and Qatar in last-ball thrillers.

Oman mirrored that path, also carrying two points forward before registering victories against the same opponents to secure their qualification.

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With two of the three available spots locked, the battle now heats up for the remaining place.

The UAE are in pole position to claim the final berth, sitting third in the table, but Japan, Qatar, and Samoa all remain mathematically alive in the race.

For the UAE, the equation is simple: a win against Japan on Thursday will confirm their ticket to the T20 World Cup. Japan, meanwhile, need to win both their remaining fixtures to keep their hopes alive.

Qatar and Samoa, on the other hand, face a more complicated road. They not only need to win their respective matches, including their head-to-head clash on Thursday, but must also rely on other results and significantly improve their net run rates to stay in contention.

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SHARJAH: Asif Sheikh and Sandeep Jora’s brisk half-centuries, followed by a clinical bowling performance powered Nepal to a historic T20I series win over two-time World Champions West Indies here at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Monday.

With this victory, Nepal claimed an unassailable 2-0 lead with one match remaining.

This marks the first time that Nepal has beaten a Test-playing nation in a bilateral series.  Notably, Nepal failed to qualify for the Asia Cup 2025.

Set 174, West Indies were skittled for a mere 83 runs in 17.1 overs.

West Indies’ chase started on a shaky note as they lost their opening wickets inside the first three overs. Jewel Andrew was bowled by Dipendra Singh Airee after scoring two, whereas Karan KC removed Keacy Carty, who scored one.

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Nepal continued to pile up the pressure as Mohammad Aadil Alam got the better of Kyle Mayers in the seventh over. Mayers managed to add just six to the total. As a result, they were reduced to 23-3.

The slide continued as Nepal bowlers continued to tear through the middle order, with Jason Holder emerging as a top-scorer. The all-rounder made 21 from 15 with the help of two sixes in an otherwise shambolic batting display.

Eventually, Zishan Motara’s wicket on the first ball of the seventeenth over gave Nepal a memorable series victory.

For Nepal, Mohammad Aadil Alam picked up four wickets in his four overs while giving away 24 runs. Kushal Bhurtel was also excellent with the ball, taking three wickets in just 2.1 overs.

Earlier, after opting to bat first, Nepal racked up 173-6 in their 20 overs, thanks to an outstanding batting display from Aasif Sheikh and Sundeep Jora.

Nepal were 43-3 in 6.4 overs when the duo paired up and arrested the slide. The pair forged a century stand and put their team in a commanding position.

Asif hit eight fours and two sixes in his knock, while Jora’s innings was laced with five sixes and three fours.

For West Indies, Akeal Hosein and Kyle Mayers picked up two wickets.

Playing XIs

Nepal: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh(w), Rohit Paudel(c), Kushal Malla, Gulsan Jha, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sundeep Jora, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Mohammad Aadil Alam, Lalit Rajbanshi.

West Indies: Kyle Mayers, Amir Jangoo(w), Ackeem Auguste, Jewel Andrew, Keacy Carty, Navin Bidaisee, Jason Holder, Fabian Allen, Akeal Hosein(c), Zishan Motara, Jediah Blades.

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SHARJAH: Nepal cricket scripted history on Saturday as they claimed their maiden victory over a full-member ICC nation, defeating West Indies by 19 runs in the opening T20I of the three-match series at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium.

Asked to bat first, Nepal overcame early setbacks to post 148/8 in their 20 overs. Both openers, Kushal Bhurtel (6) and Aasif Sheikh (3), departed cheaply, leaving the side reeling at 12-2 inside four overs.

Skipper Rohit Paudel and Kushal Malla steadied the innings with a 58-run stand for the third wicket before falling in quick succession.

Paudel top-scored with a composed 38 off 35 balls, while Malla’s brisk 30 from 21 deliveries featured two fours and two sixes.

Gulshan Jha (22) and Dipendra Singh Airee (17) added valuable runs in the later overs to push Nepal to a competitive total.

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Jason Holder starred with the ball for West Indies, returning impressive figures of 4-20. Navin Bidaisee chipped in with three wickets while Akeal Hosein managed one.

In reply, the West Indies faltered against a disciplined Nepalese attack and were restricted to 129-9 in their 20 overs.

Bidaisee top-scored with 22 off 25 balls, while Amir Jangoo and Fabian Allen contributed 19 runs apiece.

Nepal’s bowlers shared the spoils, with Bhurtel taking two wickets. Rajbanshi, Nandan Yadav, Karan KC, Airee and Paudel all picked up one each to seal a famous win.

For his all-round display, captain Rohit Paudel was named Player of the Match, marking a proud moment for Nepal cricket as they registered a landmark triumph against a Test-playing nation.

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DARWIN: Faisal Akram helped Pakistan Shaheens edge past Nepal by one run in the 30th fixture of the Top End T20 series here at Marrara Cricket Ground on Friday.

Chasing a modest target of 144 runs, Nepal fell just one run short and could manage to score 143-7 in 20 overs.

With eight required in the last over, Faisal Akram held his nerves and ensured that Pakistan Shaheens ended on the winning side.

The drama unfolded in the last over with Nepal scoring four runs in the first two deliveries. However, wicket-keeper Ghazi Ghori displayed presence of mind and stumped Kushal Malla.

Akram bowled beautifully, and Aarif Sheikh could only manage to take a single on the second-last ball, with Nepal eventually requiring three runs of the last delivery.

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Under pressure, well-set batter, Dipendra Singh Airee, attempted an unconventional reverse shot, which went straight to the fielder, resulting in his run out and emphatic win for Pakistan Shaheens.

After losing an early wicket, Aasif Sheikh and captain Rohit Paudel paired up to take them over the 50-run mark.

Sheikh departed after playing a measured knock off 27 runs from 30 balls. As a result, Nepal were 58-2 in 11.4 overs. However, Shaheens made a comeback with Gulsan Jha (3) run out in the very next over.

With Nepal losing quick wickets, Rohit Paudel remained firm and top-scored with 52 from 44 balls. His innings featured six boundaries and a four.

Despite the skipper’s removal, Nepal cruised in the chase until the 19th over with Dipendra Singh Airee keeping them in the hunt.  Airee played a valiant knock off 41 from 21 balls, striking two fours and a maximum.

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For Pakistan Shaheens, Mohammad Wasim and Faisal Akram were the standout bowlers, picking up two wickets in their four overs.

Earlier, skipper of Pakistan Shaheens, Muhammad Irfan Khan, powered his team to a fighting total against Nepal with his 42 off 26 balls. Irfan’s knock included three fours and a six.

After deciding to bat first, Pakistan Shaheens mustered 144-9 in their allocated 20 overs.

Pakistan Shaheens could not capitalize on the decision as they lost wickets at regular intervals.

At one stage, the Shaheens were reeling at 74-7 in 12.3 overs until Muhammad Irfan and Mohammad Wasim’s partnership lifted them out of trouble.

Wasim made 23 from 22 balls with the aid of two fours and a maximum.

For Nepal, Sompal Kami took three wickets while Dipendra Singh Airee and Nandan Yadav supported him well with two wickets each.

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DARWIN: All-round Hassan Khan powered Chicago Kingsmen to victory, whereas Melbourne Renegades, Hobart Hurricanes, Northern Territory Strike, and ACT Comets also recorded wins here on Friday in the Top End T20 series.

Hassan Khan starred with bat and ball to guide the Kingsmen to a two-wicket win over Perth Scorchers Academy.

Chasing a target of 142, Chicago Kingsmen sealed the win on the first ball of the 19th over. Despite losing three for 47 at the end of the power play, Kingsmen ended on the winning side, thanks to measured knocks from captain Hammad Azam and Hassan Khan.

Azam remained unbeaten on 28 from 16 balls, hitting four boundaries, whereas Hassan made 22 off 11 deliveries with an equal number of fours.

For Perth Scorchers Academy, Teague Wyllie scored 67 off 50 balls, while Matthew Kelly managed to scalp three wickets.

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Hassan Khan was awarded the Player of the Match for his three wickets and vital contribution with the bat.

In another match, Northern Territory Strike (NTS) comprehensively defeated Nepal by 42 runs.

Put into bat first, NTS scored 177-8 in their allocated 20 overs with captain D’Arcy Short scoring 51 from 34 balls, laced with seven fours and a six.

For Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane took three wickets in his quota of four overs.

In reply, Nepal could only muster 135-8, with Kushal Malla remaining the top scorer. The left-hander made 34 from 26 balls.

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Matt Hammond was the standout bowler for NT Strike with three wickets to his name.

Earlier, Hobart Hurricanes and Melbourne Renegades Academies won their matches in the second and third fixtures of the Top End Series, respectively.

Hurricanes comprehensively defeated the Australian Cricket Territory team by seven wickets.

The Hurricanes chased down the 162-run target on the second ball of the last over with Bradley Hope scoring 65 off 51 balls with the aid of two sixes and half a dozen boundaries.

Meanwhile, Melbourne Renegades edge out Melbourne Stars Academy by four runs in a thriller.

Chasing a 189-run target, Stars could not go over the line in the last over and could only manage to score 185-6.

Will Sutherland was pivotal with his all-round performance, scoring 63 off 34 and also taking two wickets in the match.

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DUBAI: The International Cricket Council (ICC) on Thursday announced that Nepal will host the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier, scheduled from 12 January to 16 February 2026.

The global qualifier will feature ten teams vying for the remaining four spots at the tenth edition of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup, which will be held in England and Wales from 12 June to 5 July 2026.

The main tournament will see 33 matches played across 24 days at seven iconic venues, including Old Trafford, Headingley, the Hampshire Bowl, and the Bristol County Ground. The final will be staged at Lord’s.

In the Nepal-based Qualifier, the ten teams will be divided into two groups of five, followed by a Super Six stage and a final.

The complete match schedule will be announced later.

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So far, Bangladesh and Ireland have secured their spots in the Qualifier based on their participation in the 2024 edition.

Nepal and Thailand advanced through the Asia regional pathway, while the USA qualified via the Americas.

Five more teams will be determined through upcoming regional qualifiers, two from Africa, two from Europe, and one from the East Asia-Pacific region.

Earlier, the ICC had confirmed the groupings and venues for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 main event:

• Group A: Australia (defending champions), South Africa (2024 runners-up), India, Pakistan, and two Qualifier teams.
• Group B: England (hosts), New Zealand, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and two Qualifier teams.

The top two teams from each group will advance to the semi-finals, scheduled for 30 June and 2 July at The Oval. The final will take place on 5 July at Lord’s.

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GLASGOW: George Munsey’s impressive 78, along with Chris Greaves’ three-wicket haul, led Scotland to a 34-run victory over Nepal in the final match of the T20 tri-series at Titwood on Friday.

The win helped Scotland top the group in a tri-series that also included the Netherlands and Nepal. The hosts emerged as the top team based on the net run rate. All three teams won two games, resulting in a tie with four points each; however, Scotland managed to pip ahead.

Nepal, while chasing a daunting 194-run target, crumbled under pressure and were bowled out for 159 in 18.5 overs.

Nepal lost their top four wickets inside four overs, leaving them 40-4. However, a  brief 42-run partnership between Dipendra Singh Airee and skipper Rohit Paudel provided them some respite.

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But Scotland struck in the 11th over, removing the captain who scored 27 off 20 balls with the aid of four boundaries. The wicket sparked a mini-collapse that Nepal was unable to recover from.

At one stage, Scotland reduced Nepal to 117-8 in 15.2 overs, but Rupesh Singh’s late onslaught helped them reach the 150-run mark.  He top-scored with 43 off 22 balls, laced with three sixes and a four.

Ultimately, Nepal fell short of the target after being bowled out in the second last over.

For Scotland, Chris Greaves was the standout bowler, taking three wickets in his three overs.

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Earlier, after opting to bat, Scotland scored 193-5 in their allocated 20 overs. George Munsey and Mark Wyatt provided a rollicking start before the former was removed for nine runs.

Nonetheless, Munsey partnered with Brandon McMullen in a match-defining century stand. The duo’s batting brought the hosts’ score to 134 in just 12.4 overs.

Munsey top scored with 78 off 39 deliveries, smashing half a dozen sixes and five fours, while McMullen’s 42 off 30 balls included four boundaries and a six.

For Nepal, Kushal Bhurtel picked up two wickets while Sandeep Lamichhane,  Rupesh Singh and Lalit Rajbanshi chipped in with two wickets.

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GLASGOW: Sandeep Lamichhane’s four-wicket haul helped Nepal beat Scotland by two wickets in a narrowly contested encounter in the third match of the tri-series here at Titwood on Tuesday. 

Nepal chased down the meagre total of 98 runs on the fifth ball of the last over with two wickets to spare.

In pursuit of the target, Nepal lost their three wickets in the first seven overs, with the scorecard read 38-3.

However, opener Kushal Bhurtel stood firm until the 12th over despite wickets tumbling at the other end. He scored 30 off 35 balls with the help of four boundaries.

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With 35 required off the last seven overs, Scotland’s bowlers made a comeback, taking crucial middle-order wickets.

The match eventually reached the last over with Nepal requiring four of six balls with three wickets in hand.

However, Safyaan Sharif bowled well with three singles on the first three balls, hence taking a wicket as well on the next delivery to give Scotland some hope.

But incoming batter Sandeep Lamichhane kept his head calm and ran for a single to secure Nepal with their first win in the tri-series.

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Earlier, after being put into bat, Scotland were skittled for a meagre 97 runs in 19.4 overs.

The home team demonstrated a shambolic batting performance, losing half of their side inside the first five overs.

Nepal wreaked havoc with the new ball, first removing Mark Wyatt (1) and dangerous George Munsey (8). Liam Naylor was the next to go, after scoring just one, and Finlay McCreath followed him as he departed for two runs.

The only silver lining for Scotland was Michael Leask, who top-scored with a run-a-ball 46, laced with a six and four boundaries.

For Nepal, Player of the match Sandeep Lamichhane was the stand-out bowler, taking four wickets for just 11 runs in his quota of four overs, while Karan KC and Dipendra Singh Aireeb bagged two wickets each.

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GLASGOW: Netherlands edged past Nepal in a dramatic third super over thriller during the second match of the T20 tri-series here at Titwood on Monday. 

The Netherlands held their nerve in the third super, taking two wickets as Nepal failed to set a decent score. Offspinner Zach Lion-Cachet claimed two wickets to end Nepal’s proceedings.

Michael Levitt came out and hit six on the first ball to give his team a thrilling victory. This marked the first time any men’s professional match, T20 or List A, had gone into a third Super Over.

Following the tie, Nepal set the Netherlands a target of 20 to win in the first super over, as Kushal Bhurtel smashed 18 runs, laced with two sixes and a four. However, the Netherlands managed to level the score, finishing with 19 runs as Max O’Dowd hit six and four off the final two balls.

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In the second super over, the Netherlands smashed two sixes in the first three balls but ended up scoring 17. In reply, Nepal’s Rohit Paudel struck the first ball for a maximum, and Dipendra Singh Airee hit a four as they required seven off the penultimate ball.

Airee smashed a six to take the game into the third super over for the first time in international cricket.

Earlier, chasing a target of 153 runs, Nepal needed 16 runs from the last over. The match ended in a tie as they scored 15 runs in the 20th over.

In pursuit of the target, Nepal had a poor start, losing their two wickets in only the second over.

However, Kushal Bhurtel looked good for his 34 off 23 balls, forging a quick-fire 43-run partnership with Rohit Paudel, which brought the score to 52 in 5.3 overs.

But wickets continued to tumble in the middle despite skipper Rohit Paudel’s 48 as Nepal were reduced to 137-8. With 16 required in the last over, Nandan Yadav took a couple of doubles before striking two fours, resulting in a tie.

Put in to bat first, the Netherlands scored 152 runs on the loss of seven wickets in their allocated 20 overs.

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The Netherlands had a decent score until the 11th over despite losing four wickets in the process; however, Nepal bowled well in the second half of the innings to restrict them to a competitive total.

Teja Nidamanuru top-scored with 35 off 37 balls, with the help of one six, while Saqib Zulfiqar smashed 25 off 12 deliveries with the aid of two sixes and a four.

For Nepal, Sandeep Lamichhane was the standout bowler, taking three wickets in his quota of four overs, while Nandan Yadav chipped in with two wickets.

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