KATHMANDU, Aug 29: 2018 has been a remarkable year for Nepal national cricket team. From making heart beats pump at extraordinary levels in the ICC World Cricket League Division Two to securing one-day international (ODI) status for the next four years in ICC World Cup Qualifiers, Nepal, with a hint of luck, has been on upward spiral. 

Nepal even won their first-ever ODI match at the Amstelveen against the Netherlands at the start of this month. By the end of this month, another glorious opportunity to possibly feature in Asia Cup alongside the heavyweights of the game, India and Pakistan, beckons.

Asia’s top six associate nations -- Nepal, the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Oman -- will fight at another cut-throat tournament Asia Cup Qualifiers for one available spot in the subsequent Asia Cup.

After kicking off the campaign against Oman today, Nepal will play six matches in nine days if it reaches the finals. The winner of the final will be seeded in Group A of the Asia Cup including the 2017 Champions Trophy finalists, while Group B will include Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, and Afghanistan.

The final of the qualifiers, on September 6, will be broadcasted live on Star Sports network, Indian sports channel.

SQUAD
The most successful captain of Nepal cricket, Paras Khadka continues to lead the side with another milestone success in sight.

Nepal’s first squad after Shakti Gauchan’s retirement saw the comeback of all-rounder Sagar Pun. The right arm batsman has had wonderful campaign in Malaysia topping the run charts in their premier one-day event Malaysian Premier League. Similarly, Binod Bhandari, who was smacking domestic bowlers at a strike-rate of about 200, was called up to replace the injured Sharad Vesawkar. The rest of the squad remained the same that toured the Netherlands.
 

Full List: Paras Khadka (Captain), Gyanendra Malla (Vice Captain), Anil Kumar Sah, Basant Regmi, Binod Bhandari, Dipendra Singh Airee, Karan KC, Lalit Bhandari, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Md. Arif Sheikh, Rohit Kumar Paudel, Sagar Pun, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, Subash Khakurel.
Reserve Players: Kishor Mahato, Pradeep Airee, Sunil Dhamala, Sushan Bhari

FORM
Going by the team’s form seen during the three practice matches in Sri Lanka, where Nepal won all three matches in a comparatively comprehensive manner, it seems that Nepal is well prepared for a hectic tournament.

The lack of experience in the middle order due to absence of Vesawkar was addressed in the three practice matches in Sri Lanka as Pun was slotted in his position, where he responded with a match winning 92 runs along with three wickets to live up to his reputation as a very capable all-rounder.

With the boy wonder Sandeep Lamichhane joining in straight from his heroics in Caribbean Premier League where he dismissed players like David Warner, the already consistent bowling unit looks more confident. If Lamichhane can build a formidable partnership with Basant Regmi, they can keep most batting lineups on check at this level. The spin trio of Regmi, Lamichhane and Pun might keep Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi out of the playing XI.

The pace bowling spearhead Sompal Kami has been in good form since the World Cup Qualifiers consistently wrecking up top orders of opposition teams. He will compete with some of the finest associate pace bowlers in the UAE’s Muhammad Naveed and Oman’s Bilal Khan. His strike partner remains an area of concern for Nepal, as both Lalit Singh Bhandari and Karan KC have been inconsistent and giving away runs at the other end.

Similarly, with the middle order of Khadka, Dipendra Singh Airee, Aarif Sheikh, and Sagar Pun all looking in good touch with the bat, the only area of concern in the batting department is the opening partner of Gyanendra Malla. Anil Kumar Sah has shown flashes of brilliance as well as poor shot selections, whereas Subash Khakurel is yet to get a considerable amount of runs under his belt to start for the national team. However, Khakurel remains the only regular wicket-keeping option in the squad. Binod Bhandari will have to wait for his chances after failing to impress in the practice matches.
 

Probable XI: Sah/Khakurel, Malla, Khadka, Airee, Aarif, Pun, Paudel, Kami, Regmi, Lamichhane, L Bhandari/KC.

PREDICTION
Nepal and the UAE are the favorites to start the tournament with either of the team capable of reaching the Asia Cup. Hong Kong will be a constant threat if both their most iconic batsmen Anshuman Rath and Babar Hayat can hit the straps from get going. Oman has been another success story in recent times riding on the pace and skill of pace bowler Bilal Khan who can run through most associate batting units on his day. Malaysian players will be high on match fitness compared to other teams as they have recently concluded their domestic one-day competition. In home turfs, and in competitive shape, they can pose serious threat to other top contenders. Finally, Singapore is no mug when it comes to pulling of an upset.

In an open tournament with six matches to be played in nine days, there will hardly be any time to rejuvenate and find that winning momentum if a team starts poorly.

Nepal, with everything positive happening this year, will definitely look to add another feather in the cap and qualify for the Asia Cup in mid-September. Most observers will not be surprised if the team does it again the hard way—pumping up more heart-beats for fans and supporters back home with few more last-ball thrillers.

 
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