KATHMANDU, Aug 7: Nepal national cricket team returned home on Monday after playing its first ODI series, against the Netherlands, in the latter’s home ground.
Captain Paras Khadka said that the one-run win over the Netherlands in its second match of the series was a milestone in the history of Nepali cricket. The team will now prepare for the Asia Cup qualifiers.
In the qualifying tournament, which will start after three weeks in Malaysia, the national team will lock horns against Hong Kong, host Malaysia, Oman, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE). The tournament will be played in round-robin league format with the winner qualifying to the Asia Cup, which is scheduled to be held from September 15 to 28 in the UAE.
“The first win in our first ODI series is a milestone in itself. It is necessary to regularly play two-country and triangular series. Now, we will be busy with preparations for the Asia Cup qualifying tournament,” skipper Khadka said.
“This is a good opportunity for us. We will get to play against teams like India and Pakistan if we win the tournament. Hong Kong and the UAE are good teams on paper, but Oman is also very good. We will play good cricket and try to bring the results on our side.”
Mission WC begins for Nepal with historic home ODIs
Nepal will play its first qualifying match against Oman, while it will take on the UAE in the second. Nepal will lock horns against Oman in the third, Singapore in the fourth and against Hong Kong in the last match.
The winning team of the qualifying tournament will be pitted in Group A with India and Pakistan. Group B of the tournament has Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka.
“It is a dream of every player to play against India and Pakistan and the Asia Cup is a good opportunity to do just that.
Each and every player is working very hard to achieve that,” said Jagat Tamatta, head coach of the national team. “We have recommended holding practice sessions in Sri Lanka for preparations of the tournament, but it has not been fixed yet. We are confident in achieving success playing good cricket.”
Nepal achieved ODI status after the World Cup qualifying tournament and played against the Netherlands in the country’s first ODI series. Despite suffering a 55-run defeat in the first match of the series, Nepal battled well in the second to beat the home team by a thrilling one run at the VRA Cricket Ground in Amstelveen.
On their return home after leveling the series 1-1, the Nepali team was welcomed by the member secretary of National Sports Council (NSC) Keshav Kumar Bista at Tribhuvan International Airport on Monday.
“It was our dream to play ODI series, which has now been fulfilled. It is a matter of happiness for me to coach this team,” Tamatta further said. “Still, we could see some weaknesses in the side. But our fielding was superb, to the level of international standard. Our bowling was also very good.”
“It will be very helpful to play more and more series like the one we played against the Netherlands. The players will progress a lot if they get such exposure. We will become a Test playing nation in about 8-10 years.”
Captain Khadka, vice captain Gyanendra Malla and Sompal Kami made half-centuries, while Khadka claimed five wickets, and Kami and Sandeep Lamichhane picked up four wickets each in the two matches.
Nepal played against the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Netherlands in a triangular T-20 series at the Lord’s Stadium in London. In the series affected by rain, Nepal defeated MCC, while the match against the Netherlands ended in a draw.
