The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has officially announced a 24-player squad that will participate in a mandatory group camp. This camp is a critical part of the team's final preparations for the upcoming ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2024, set to be held in the West Indies and the USA.
The Squad Composition and Leadership
The squad will be led by the young and dynamic captain, Rohit Paudel. Assisting him as vice-captain will be the experienced all-rounder, Dipendra Singh Airee. The selection committee, chaired by Arjun Adhikari, has put together a mix of seasoned campaigners and promising talent, aiming to build a competitive unit for the global tournament.
The list of selected players includes: Aasif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Aarif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Rohit Paudel (Captain), Sundeep Jora, Dipendra Singh Airee (Vice-Captain), Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Pratish GC, Abinash Bohara, Sagar Dhakal, Kamal Singh Airee, Bibek Kumar Yadav, Lalit Rajbanshi, and Avinash Bohara. This core group is expected to form the backbone of Nepal's campaign.
Camp Details and Preparatory Schedule
The intensive group camp is scheduled to commence on April 25, 2024. All selected players have been instructed to report to the designated location to begin their rigorous training regimen. This camp is designed to fine-tune skills, build team cohesion, and formulate specific strategies for the challenging conditions expected in the Caribbean and the United States.
Following the domestic camp, the Nepali team is slated to travel to the West Indies well in advance of the tournament's start. This early arrival will allow the squad to acclimatize to the local weather and pitch conditions, which are often drastically different from those in South Asia. The team plans to play several practice matches against local sides or other touring teams to gain valuable match practice.
Road to the T20 World Cup
Nepal earned its place in the T20 World Cup 2024 through a strong performance in the Asian regional qualifiers. Their journey in the main tournament will begin in Group D, where they will face formidable opponents. Nepal's first match is against the Netherlands on June 4 in Dallas, Texas. This will be followed by a clash with Sri Lanka on June 11 in Florida. Their final group stage match is against South Africa on June 14, also in Florida.
The match against Bangladesh, originally scheduled for June 2, has been rescheduled to June 16 in St. Vincent, following a request from the Bangladesh Cricket Board (BCB) to accommodate their pre-tournament schedule. This adjustment adds a new dynamic to Nepal's group stage planning.
The announcement of this 24-player squad marks the beginning of the final and most important phase of preparation for the Nepali cricket team. Fans and cricket enthusiasts will be eagerly watching as Rohit Paudel and his men gear up to make a mark on the world stage, aiming to cause upsets and progress beyond the group stage in the prestigious ICC event.
