Nepal Cricket Team Prepares for Crucial ICC League

Nepal Cricket Team Prepares for Crucial ICC League-2 Series in Oman

Ratopati
October 03, 2026

Kathmandu. The Nepali cricket team is preparing to go to Oman for the final series of the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup ‘League-2’.

Nepal will compete against host Oman and Canada in the triangular series starting in Oman on October 7. This series is not only an opportunity for Nepal to complete its four ‘League-2’ matches but also a decisive test to retain its One Day International (‘ODI’) status.

Nepal has played 32 matches in ‘League-2’, securing 24 points with 11 wins, 19 losses, and 2 matches with no result. Nepal is in seventh place in the points table of the eight-team competition.

Canada, one place above Nepal, has 25 points,

Canada, one place above Nepal, has 25 points, while Oman is in fourth place with 31 points. Therefore, the results of Nepal’s final four matches will determine not only its final position in ‘League-2’ but also its path to the next World Cup qualifiers.

Nepal will play against Canada on October 11 and 17, and against Oman on October 13 and 19. All four matches will be played at the Al Amerat Cricket Ground. The top four teams in ‘League-2’ will directly qualify for the 2027 World Cup qualifiers, while the remaining teams will have to advance through the qualifying ‘play-offs’.

Among them, the top two teams will retain their place in the next ‘League-2’ cycle, while the bottom two teams will be at risk of dropping to the Challenge League. Nepal is currently far behind in the race for the top four. Therefore, the main goal of the final four matches is to increase points and at least stay within the top six to retain its ‘ODI’ status.

• Captain Sandeep and Coach Stuart Law’s Test

Nepal has recently changed the leadership

Nepal has recently changed the leadership of its ODI team. Sandeep Lamichhane has once again taken over the captaincy of the ‘ODI’ team. Nepal will play the final ‘League-2’ series in Oman under his leadership.

Nepal has also secured a place in next year’s Asia Cup by winning the ACC Premier Cup held in Malaysia some time ago. Nepal defeated UAE by 44 runs in the final. Asif Sheikh scored 102 runs in that match, while Karan KC took 3 wickets. Sandeep Lamichhane became the best player of the tournament with 17 wickets.

Although the success in the Premier Cup has boosted the confidence of the Nepali team, its performance in ‘League-2’ has been inconsistent. Questions have been raised about its batting and ability to play according to conditions, especially on foreign soil.

Earlier, Captain Sandeep had also stated that while

Earlier, Captain Sandeep had also stated that while he plays well on home ground, he faces problems replicating the same level of performance on foreign grounds. Efforts were made to improve this through necessary preparation and strategy.

• Kushal Bhurtel and Sompal Out of Team, More Reliance on Spin

Experienced opener Kushal Bhurtel is not in the 15-member squad announced for the Oman tour. He has been consistently out of the team recently. Bhurtel was previously dropped from the team for poor performance in ‘League-2’ matches. He was also not in the team for the ACC Premier Cup and was not selected for the Oman tour.

Bhurtel is one of Nepal’s regular openers. However, his performance in ‘League-2’ has not been up to expectations recently. Against this backdrop, the selection committee seems to have given opportunities to new alternatives. However, CAN has not officially disclosed the detailed reason for not including Bhurtel in the team.

In the Oman tour, Asif Sheikh, along

In the Oman tour, Asif Sheikh, along with Arjun Kumal and Dev Khanal, can provide opening options. Young players who have received opportunities in the last year have a chance to prove themselves.

Experienced fast bowler Sompal Kami is also out of the team for the Oman tour. Hemant Dhami has also not been included in the team. Nandan Yadav has been included in their place, while left-arm spinner Sahab Alam has returned to the team.

Considering the conditions in Oman, the spin bowling options in the Nepali team appear strong. Captain Sandeep, along with Lalit Rajbanshi, Sahab Alam, and Sher Malla, are specialist spinners. Dipendra Singh Airee, Bashir Ahmed, and Ishan Pandey can also provide spin bowling options.

In terms of fast bowling, Karan KC

In terms of fast bowling, Karan KC and Nandan Yadav are the main options, while Gulshan Jha can also bowl at a medium pace.

• Match Against Canada is Decisive

There is only a one-point difference between Nepal and Canada in the points table. Therefore, the two matches on October 11 and 17 will be particularly important for Nepal. If Nepal wins both matches, it will have an opportunity to move up in the points table. However, losing points in the match against Canada will make it more difficult for Nepal to stay in the top six.

On the other hand, Oman is in fourth place with 31 points. Since Nepal will also play two matches against Oman, Nepal will have to score more than its capacity in the final series.

• Final Four Matches of the 36-Match Journey

In ICC World Cup ‘League-2’, each team plays

In ICC World Cup ‘League-2’, each team plays 36 matches. Nepal has completed 32 matches. After the four matches in Oman, Nepal’s cycle will end. The top four teams in ‘League-2’ will qualify for the World Cup qualifiers. This goal is currently in a difficult situation for Nepal. Therefore, the priority of the final four matches is to improve the points table and secure ‘ODI’ status.

In this sense, the Oman tour is not just another series for Nepali cricket, but a significant turning point that will determine the future of its one-day cricket. Amidst a new captain, a changing team structure, opportunities given to young players, and the absence of experienced players like Kushal Bhurtel, Nepal now has to respond with its best performance on the field.

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Source: english.ratopati.com