ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers
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Nepal takes first wicket against Papua New Guinea
KATHMANDU, Sept 24: Nepal will face Papua New Guinea (PNG) in its opening match of the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers to be held in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia from October 15 to 22. Matches of the qualifiers will be played at the Kinrara Oval and Bayuemas Oval cricket grounds.
As per the schedule announced by the International Cricket Council (ICC), Nepal will play against PNG on the opening day at the Kinrara Oval.
According to the ICC, this is the second and final chance for the participating teams to qualify for next year's World Cup after they finished runner-up in their respective regional qualifying tournaments.
This is the second opportunity for Nepal as well after failing to secure the top position in last year's ACC U-19 Premier League held in Kuwait won by Afghanistan.
Nepali youth team will play against Uganda on October 16, the USA on October 19 and Ireland on October 21.
The final and third place play-off matches will be played on October 22.
The ICC had earlier awarded the hosting right of the qualifiers to Nepal, but the world cricket governing body decided to reschedule the event in Malaysia following the devastating earthquake of April 25 and its aftershocks in Nepal.
Malaysia, however, is not a new destination for the youth team as it recently played the ACC U-19 Premier League held there from August 28 to September 3. Nepal again finished runner-up in the event played at Bayeumas and Kinrara Oval. Nepal beat the UAE, Malaysia, Kuwait, and Saudi Arabia but lost to Afghanistan.
Almost all players who travelled to Malaysia for the Premier League are likely to gain place in the final squad of the Qualifiers since Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has named only one new face in the 18-member squad announced last month.
Final squad to be announced on Thursday
CAN Acting General Secretary Uttam Karmacharya informed that the final squad (14 regular and four reserved players) will be announced on Thursday.
Karmacharya informed that the youth team is likely to travel to India for training and practice matches on condition that Nepal gets better facilities in India.
"We are in talks with the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and the tour is yet to be finalized," said Karmacharya.
Fixtures
15 Oct: Nepal v PNG, Kinrara Oval; Uganda v USA, Bayumas Oval
16 Oct: PNG v Ireland, Kinrara Oval; Nepal v Uganda
18 Oct: PNG v Uganda, Kinrara Oval; USA v Ireland, Bayumas Oval
19 Oct: Nepal v USA, Kinrara Oval; Uganda v Ireland, Bayumas Oval
21 Oct: Nepal v Ireland, Kinrara Oval; PNG v USA, Bayumas Oval
22 Oct: Final, Kinrara Oval; 3rd/4th place play-off, Bayumas Oval
