Nepal's historic qualification for the upcoming Asia Cup marks its debut at the continental championship. It also highlights the significant progress they have made in the realm of cricket in the region.
However, it will be nothing short of a miracle if they manage to go past the group stage, considering they are grouped alongside heavyweights India and Pakistan.
While they managed to make it to the Asia Cup after winning the ACC Men's Premier Cup in May, Nepal had a poor outing at the ODI World Cup qualifiers in June-July, where they finished 8th and couldn't even make it to the Super Six stage.
Despite this setback, Rohit Paudel, an accomplished batting all-rounder who has won 17 out of 27 ODIs so far as captain, will continue to lead the side.
In a major boost to their chances, Nepal's poster boy Sandeep Lamichhane will travel for the tournament. He initially stayed back to stand trial for alleged rape.
With the recent retirement of former captain Gyanendra Malla, the team dynamics have shifted. The squad now features Sundeep Jora, who was not part of the World Cup qualifiers. Additionally, the inclusion of uncapped off-spinner Mousom Dhakal adds a new dimension to the team's composition.
Nepal's Asia Cup squad:
Rohit Paudel (capt), Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh (wk), Bhim Sharki, Kushal Malla, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Lalit Rajbanshi, Pratish GC, Mousom Dhakal, Sundeep Jora, Kishore Mahato, Arjun Saud, Sandeep Lamichhane
Where to watch on TV
Star Sports Network will broadcast the Asia Cup 2023 event live in India.
Live streaming details
Hotstar will provide the live stream of Asia Cup 2023 for free to mobile users in India.
Nepal’s Schedule
Aug 30 - Nepal vs Pakistan
Sep 4 - Nepal vs India