KATHMANDU: The U-19 team’s opening batsman Sunil Dhamala replaced Subash Khakurel as the three-member selection panel today announced the 15-member squad for Nepal’s tour of the Netherlands.

Nepal are scheduled to face the Netherlands in the fourth-round matches of the ICC World Cricket League Championship at the VRA Ground, Amstelveen on August 13 and 15. The team of head coach Jagat Tamatta, skipper Paras Khadka and ICC’s Asia Development Officer Venkatapathy Raju announced the squad under the captaincy of Khadka.

The same panel had picked Nepal’s squad for the third-round matches of the WCL Championship against Namibia played at the TU Stadium and England tour, where the visitors played one of five matches against Marylebone Cricket Club at the Lord’s. Recently, a 15-member squad had toured England and 14 of them retained their places in the squad for the Netherlands tour.

Dhamala is new face in the team. Gyanendra Malla (vice-captain), Shakti Prasad Gauchan, Basant Regmi, Sharad Vesawkar, Sompal Kami, Sagar Pun, Binod Bhandari, Raju Rijal, Karan KC, Anil Kumar Mandal, Sandeep Lamichhane, Bikram Sob and Rajesh Pulami Magar are the other players in the final squad.

However, Khakurel was replaced by Dhamala, who featured for Nepal in the ICC U-19 World Cup held in Bangladesh from January 22 to February 14. Dhamala played in all six matches for Nepal and scored highest 56 runs against Namibia in the seventh-place playoff, which Nepal lost by 15 runs.

Head coach Tamatta said that the 19-year-old Dhamala was included in the squad as an opening batsman to replace Khakurel. “Dhamala played well in the ICC U-19 World Cup in Bangladesh and also proved himself during the closed camp training. The tour will also provide exposure to Dhamala as we are looking for a opener for future,” said Tamatta. Nepal will leave for the Netherlands on August 6 and play two practice games against local clubs before the championship matches.