Kathmandu, October 27

The selection panel headed by International Cricket Council representative today trimmed the Nepali women’s national cricket team ahead of the Women’s Twenty20 Qualifier (Asia Region).

In the absence of Cricket Association of Nepal, which is suspended by the world governing body, the squad was selected by the four-member panel headed by ICC representative Aminul Islam, men’s national team head coach Jagat Tamatta, women’s national team coach Samon Jung Thapa and skipper Rubina Chhetry Belbashi.

Out of the 44 players called up for the camp based on their performance in various tournaments over the last one year, the panel picked up 22 cricketers after assessing them during the selection matches held at the Tribhuvan University Stadium from October 24-26, informed Raman Shiwakoti, Technical Analyst of the men’s national team. The players will undergo closed-camp training from Saturday and final squad will be selected in due course.

The team, which will be led by skipper Rubina Chhetry Belbashi, also includes Sita Rana Magar, Jyoti Pandey, Sarita Magar, Nery Thapa, Roma Thapa, Indu Barma, Karuna Bhandari, Sonu Khadka, Sobha Aale, Nitu Bhandari, Alish Chhetri, Kabita Kunwar, Binu Budhamagar, Saraswoti Chaudhary, Laxmi Chaudhary, Ritu Kanojiya, Sangita Rai, Anjali Chand, Kajol Shrestha, Rekha Rawal and Sabnam Rai.

Nitu Bandaria and Alish Chhetri from Bhairahawa and Kabita Kunwar from Kailali are the new faces in the camp, while Roshani Bohara — member of the national squad that participated in the ACC Women’s Asia Cup last year — failed to impress the selectors in the practice matches. Likewise, two other experienced crickets, Neera Rajopadhyaya and Rashmi Sharma, did not attend the preliminary camp despite getting call up.

A total of six teams — Nepal, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Thailand and the United Arab Emirates — will take part in the round-robin tournament to be held in Bangkok from November 20-27. Nepal will open the campaign with a match against Thailand on November 20 before facing Hong Kong the following day. They will then play against the UAE on November 23 and face Malaysia the other day. Nepal will end the league campaign with a match against China on November 26.

Top two teams after the league round will contest in the final with the winners earning berth in the ICC Women’s World T20 Qualifier to be held in the Netherlands.