Nepal squad announced for ACC Emerging Teams Cup
KATHMANDU: The Nepal national cricket team has been announced for the ACC Emerging Teams Cup scheduled for March 25 to April 4 in Bangladesh.
After regular captain Paras Khadka withdrew from the tournament citing he needed further rest, vice-captain Gyanendra Malla will lead the 15-member squad.
National team regulars -- spinners Shakti Gauchan and Basanta Regmi -- and opening bowler Sompal Kami have been given rest.
According to Raman Shiwakoti, technical analyst of the national cricket team, the team members are:
- Gyanendra Malla (Captain)
- Sharad Vesawkar (Vice-Captain)
- Binod Bhandari
- Sagar Pun
- Md. Arif Sheikh
- Mahaboob Alam
- Dipendra Sing Airee
- Sandeep Lamichhane
- Mahamad Asif Sheikh
- Avinash Karna
- Sunil Dhamala
- Bhuwan Karki
- Sushan Bhari
- Dipesh Shrestha
- Dilip Nath
Likewise, four reserve players have also been named:
- Kushal Bhurtel
- Jitendra Kumar Mukhiya
- Rajesh Pulami Magar
- Sushil Kandel
Shiwakoti informed that the team would begin camping on March 19.
A three-member selection team comprising ICC-Asia Cricket Development Officer Venkatapathy Raju, Nepal head coach Jagat Tamatta and skipper Khadka had made the selection.
National teams of Nepal, Malaysia, Hong Kong and Afghanistan and the U-23 teams from the four Test-playing nations of the region — India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan and Bangladesh — are taking part in the event.