Nepal Aims to Extend Home Ground Momentum to Overseas Conditions

July 19, Kathmandu – Nepal’s journey in the ICC Cricket World Cup League 2 has once again reached a critical phase.

After a remarkable resurgence on home turf, where Nepal reasserted itself in the competition for a top-four finish, the team now aims to carry that momentum forward into overseas conditions by competing in the Netherlands.

The triangular series commencing on July 20 in the Netherlands will see Nepal face the hosts and Namibia. Following two consecutive impactful home series, Nepal’s true test lies in adapting to foreign environments.

Only two months ago, Nepal was positioned seventh in the League 2 standings, having secured just five wins in 20 matches and accumulating 12 points—placing the team in a precarious situation with slim chances of reaching the top four.

However, Nepal bounced back impressively by winning six out of eight matches played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground against Oman, UAE, USA, and Scotland. These victories earned Nepal 12 crucial points and elevated them to fifth place, rejuvenating their prospects of a top-four finish.

From now on, Nepal’s remaining fixtures will mostly be away. After the Netherlands leg, Nepal will play another series against Oman and Canada in Oman. The outcomes of these eight upcoming matches will heavily influence Nepal’s qualification status for the top four.

A balanced team performance formed the foundation of Nepal’s domestic success. The bowling unit remained strong as ever, while the batting displayed significant improvement. Notably, consistent contributions from the top order boosted both Nepal’s competitive totals and chasing confidence.

The arrival of Ishan Pande added a left-right batting combination, further stabilizing Nepal’s batting lineup. Led by captain Rohit Paudel, the middle order and bowlers collectively assumed responsibility, successfully putting pressure on strong teams like the USA and Scotland.

Nepal had previously sealed its World Cup qualifier berth with a series of consecutive wins in the concluding phase of the last League 2 cycle. This time, there is another opportunity for a similar comeback, provided that they can replicate their home form abroad.

Captain Rohit Paudel stressed the importance of this series for World Cup qualification and ODI status, stating, “The last two series have been very good for us, and now we are focused on the Netherlands series. Our goal is to play in the One Day International World Cup, and we are working accordingly.”

Similarly, pace bowler Sompal Kami remarked that the upcoming series is crucial and that delivering results to finish in the top four is essential. “We have to maintain our current form as our aim is to stay in the top four, preserve our ODI status, and secure World Cup qualification,” Sompal added.

The series starting in the Netherlands will be not only an opportunity for Nepal to score points but also the most important test to keep their World Cup qualification hopes alive.

Prior to the series, Captain Rohit emphasized the focus on fitness, saying, “We have devoted some time to skill development, but mostly to fitness, so our preparation is good.”

Practice Matches Mimicking Conditions in Jersey

Ahead of the foreign series, Nepal played two one-day practice matches against Jersey and won both.

In the first match, batting first, Nepal set Jersey a target of 251 runs and won by 81 runs, showcasing a century by Kushal Bhurtel alongside stellar bowling performances by Hemant Dhami and Arif Sheikh.

The second match was affected by rain while chasing a target of 283 runs, but Nepal secured a seven-run victory via the DLS system. These wins indicated Nepal’s ability to maintain form in overseas conditions.

However, a distinct gap exists between practice matches and competitive League 2 games. The weather in the Netherlands, pitches supporting seam and swing bowling, and the home team’s experience may pose formidable challenges. Namibia, also fighting for points, will make every match highly competitive.

Captain Rohit Paudel expressed that the Jersey practice matches have been very helpful for preparing for the upcoming series. “Those two matches will serve as good preparation for our next series,” he said.

Players in Good Form

Especially during the home series, Nepali players have displayed excellent form. Opening batsman Kushal Bhurtel recovered well from a few dropped games, while Ishan Pande, who was given his first chance, has also performed well.

Kushal Bhurtel has scored 202 runs, including a century, in the last five ODIs. In the practice matches against Jersey, he contributed a century and a half-century.

Ishan Pande has made 84, 55, and an unbeaten 20 in three ODI matches, while in the Jersey games he scored 90 runs, showing promising form.

Vice-captain Dipendra Singh Airee has amassed 384 runs, including one century and three half-centuries in eight matches, and has also taken 11 wickets.

On the bowling front, leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has taken 19 wickets in the last eight matches. In the Jersey practice matches, Sandeep, along with Karan KC and Hemant Dhami, claimed wickets.

Sandeep has been taking wickets consistently since June 10, 2025, over 13 consecutive matches.

This indicates that Nepali players are currently in good rhythm.

Opponents’ Standing

In the League 2 standings, Nepal is currently positioned between two opposing teams. The Netherlands stands above Nepal, while Namibia is below.

Third-placed Netherlands has earned 32 points from 28 matches, while fifth-placed Nepal holds 28 points from the same number of matches.

Namibia, sitting in seventh place, has 22 points from 28 matches. How many matches Nepal wins and how many the Netherlands loses will largely determine Nepal’s final position.

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The League 2 series featuring Nepal, Namibia, and the Netherlands begins Tuesday, July 20. Nepal will face Namibia in its opening match on Tuesday and compete against the Netherlands on July 22.

Subsequently, Nepal will play Namibia on July 26 and the Netherlands on July 28.

Nepal Team: Rohit Paudel, Kushal Bhurtel, Dipendra Singh Airee, Asif Sheikh, Binod Bhandari, Ishan Pande, Bhim Sharki, Arif Sheikh, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Lalit Rajbanshi, Sandeep Lamichhane, Arjun Kumal