In the previous editions of the tournament, Nepal and Afghanistan used to meet in either semifinal or final to establish their supremacy among the non-Test-playing nations of Asia. [break]
However, they are locking horns in the group stage this time around.
Afghanistan had defeated Nepal in the semifinal of the last edition, which cost Nepal their seeding in the draw for the ongoing edition as both the teams were drawn in the same group. That defeat also meant Nepal could not qualify for the Youth World Cup for the first time in 10 years.
Nepal U-19 skipper Prithu Baskota knows the pain well as he was a team member in the last edition. He had scored 81 runs but Nepal lost the match. "It hurts me when I remember the match; my seniors have suggested me to take revenge against Afghanistan this time," said Baskota.
Nepal have lost every match, in all forms and at all levels, against Afghanistan since 2007, when Nepal had defeated Afghanistan by 48 runs in the ACC U-19 tournament in Malaysia.
Both Nepal and Afghanistan have won their first two matches in the ongoing tournament. Afghanistan defeated Oman by nine wickets on Thursday to set the tone against Nepal, while Nepal are also set for the showdown after defeating the UAE by nine wickets and a 304-run victory over Oman.
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