KATHMANDU, April 13: Nepal will take on the UAE in the first match of the ICC U-19 World Cup Asia Qualifier that kicks off today at the Mulpani International Cricket Ground. The Nepal-UAE match starts at 9 AM at the Lower Mulpani ground.
Since 2019, Nepal has faced the UAE three times and won all three matches.
The qualifier tournament features Nepal, Oman, Hong Kong, and Afghanistan.
Nepal faces defeat with UAE
Also today, Afghanistan faces Oman at the Upper Mulpani Ground.
Captain Narendra Bhatta leads the Nepali squad, which features Abhishek Tiwari, Niraj Yadav, Sahil Patel, Cibrin Shrestha, Roshan Bishwakarma, Darsh Sonar, and Dilsad Ali. The team includes Santosh Yadav, Ashok Dhami, Dayanand Mandal, Aparajit Paudel, Yuvaraj Khatri, and Bipin Prasad Sharma.
Nepal competed in the U-19 World Cup held in South Africa last year.
From 2000 to 2008, Nepal played in five consecutive U-19 World Cups. The team also appeared in the 2012 and 2016 editions, making a total of eight appearances in the tournament.
Nepal, Afghanistan, and the UAE earned direct entry into the Asia Qualifier, while Hong Kong and Oman advanced through regional qualification. Only the winner of this qualifier will secure a spot in the ICC U-19 World Cup 2026, set to take place in Zimbabwe and Namibia.
