KATHMANDU, Sept 6: Nepal U-19 national cricket team is aiming to reach as far as possible in the upcoming ACC U-19 Asia Cup’s eight edition starting on Thursday.

Nepal is placed with host nation Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and current rivals the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Group B.  Nepal has avoided the two of the most successful teams in this format, hence, increasing the chances of upsets during the group stage.

The seven-time champions India and Pakistan, which shared the trophy with India in the third edition, are in Group A alongside Kuwait and the champions of sixth edition Afghanistan.
The current crop of U-19 cricketers is regarded as the strongest age-level team Nepal ever had in this format. The team is already mulling over the prospects of defeating big teams to live up to its giant-killers tag given by international media. 

HISTORY
In 2017, Nepal had defeated India by 19 runs in a Group A match played at Bayuemas Oval in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Dipendra Singh Airee, the then captain, was the main architect of the win along with the presence of mercurial Sandeep Lamichhane. Both are regular members of the senior team now. Nepal was outplayed in the semifinal against eventual winners Afghanistan.

Airee was again the center of attraction when he ran Sri Lanka close in the Group A match played at Colombo, Sri Lanka in 2016, fifth edition. The host team won the match by a run despite Airee scoring 90 runs in the 228 chase that fell a run short.

Pawan Sarraf, Aasif Sheikh, Bhim Sharki and Kamal Singh Airee are the four reminiscence of above two matches who are in the current squad for upcoming edition of Asia Cup. In the last edition, Nepal lost to India and Afghanistan to finish third in the Group A defeating UAE by three wickets to complete the consolation win.

Nepal won the ACC U-19 Eastern Region championship in July to qualify for the Asia Cup. In a convincing campaign, teams like Hong Kong, Singapore were no match to Nepal’s dominance in eastern part of Asia. However, Nepal had missed a spot in the U-19 World Cup by a run loss against the UAE under D/L method during the ICC U-19 World Cup Qualifiers which preceded the Eastern Region.

TEAM
Head coach Binod Das has entrusted the almost same squad for the last three assignments whereas former Nepal captain Raju Khadka will be managing the team. Likewise, Subash Patro and Vikram Nyaupane are accompanying the team as trainer and physiotherapist, respectively. The batting consultant from India, Apurva Desai has joined the team in Sri Lanka.

Rohit Kumar Paudel has retained the captaincy after being trusted for last two assignments. Opening batsmen Sarraf, who has traveled with National senior team in recent times, is the experience head in the batting department leading the partnership with consistent Rit Gautam who is first Nepali batsman to have two international centuries for Nepal in age-level cricket. Aasif Sheikh has added necessary runs under his belt in the three-match practice series. He is also been seen with the wicket-keeping gloves during the trainings in Sri Lanka. The world-record holder for youngest half-century in international cricket Paudel along with explosive Sundeep Jora and Bhim Sharki makes up the dependable middle order in batting.

Likewise, Kamal Singh Airee, Rashid Khan and Pratish GC have made a successful trio of pace bowling for U-19 team for some time now. The rise of Sagar Dhakal is often compared with wicket-taking abilities of Nepali globetrotter Lamichhane whereas Surya Tamang and Kushal Malla will support him.

FORM
Currently at Sri Lanka, Nepal had a mix performance in lead up to the tournament. The U-19 team played three practice matches in build up to the Asia Cup. Nepal suffered a three-wicket loss at the hands of Sinhalese Sports Club (SSC) U-23 cricket team in the first practice match played at Sinhalese Sports Club Stadium in Colombo.

Sagar Dhakal notched up a match-winning performance in commanding 80 runs win against Baduraliya Cricket Club in the second practice match whereas suffered a 89-run loss against Chilaw Marians Cricket Club in the third practice match held at club’s home ground in Katunayake.
Nepal will face Sri Lanka in its opening encounter at R.Premadasa on Friday whereas Bangladesh and the UAE at P Sara and Malay Cricket Ground respectively. 

Nepal is placed with host team Sri Lanka, Bangladesh and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Group B for the marquee youth Asian cup. The top two teams after the single round-robin league will reach the semifinals. The final match has been scheduled for September 14.

SQUAD
Rohit Kumar Paudel (C), Rit Gautam, Pawan Sarraf, Aasif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Bhim Sharki, Hari Bahadur Chauhan, Kushal Malla, Rashid Khan, Kamal Singh Airee, Sagar Dhakal, Khadak Bahadur Bohara, Surya Tamang, Lokesh Bahadur Bam and Pratish GC. 

 
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