KATHMANDU, Aug 4: Opener Anil Kumar Mandal has regained his place in the Nepali national cricket team announced on Wednesday for the ICC World Cricket League (WCL) Championship matches against the Netherlands. Nepal is scheduled to visit the Netherlands for two 50-over matches on August 13 and 15.
Opener Anil was left out from Nepal's last matches of the WCL Championship against Namibia played at home turf of TU cricket ground, Kirtipur, on April 16 and 18. Nepal had won both of the matches. Meanwhile, Naresh Budayair and Susan Bhari, members of the Nepali team against Namibia were axed from the current squad.
Besides Anil, Bikram Sob and Sunil Dhamala have also reclaimed their places in the final list of 15-member national team announced on Wednesday.
The team named under captaincy of Paras Khadka includes Gyanendra Malla (vice president), Shakti Prasad Gauchan, Basant Regmi, Sharad Vesawkar, Sompal Kami, Sagar Pun, Binod Bhandari, Raju Rijal, Karan KC, Anil Kumar Mnadal, Sandeep Lamichhane and Rajesh Pulami Magar.
A selection committee headed by ICC representative Venkatapathi Raju, national coach Jagat Tamata and captain Paras picked the players. ICC has assigned Venkatapathi Raju to lead the selection committee for the national team after it suspended the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) owing to internal disputes in the cricket governing body of Nepal.
Anil retained his place in the squad following his impressive performance in the recently concluded England tour of national team. The tour was taken as part of preparation for the Netherlands encounter which has similar condition as of England. Anil had scored 73 runs against Eastbourne Cricket Club and 43 runs against Club Cricket Conference.
Bikram Sob, primarily a right-handed fast medium bowler, had claimed four wickets against Free Forester, two wickets against Gymkhana and one wicket against Eastbourne in the England tour. He was a reserve player against Namibia.
Sunil Dhamala is the member of the U-19 national cricket team that made it to the quarterfinals of the ICC U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh earlier this year. Sunil, the opening batsman of the U-19 national cricket team is right-handed batsman and a part-time bowler. He was not included in Nepal's England tour.
England tour an opportunity to prepare for Netherlands fixtures
After playing six matches of the WCL Championship, the Netherlands sits on top of the eight-team contest with 10 points while Nepal is sixth with four points after pulling wins over Namibia in April. Nepal was defeated by Scotland and Papua New Guinea in the first two round matches.
The top four teams of the tournament to be played over two years in double round robin format will qualify for the 2019 ICC World Cup qualifiers.
