Nepal is ready to join the ICC World Cup Qualifiers that begin on June 18, 2023. The cricket authority of Nepal has announced their team for the upcoming World Cup Qualifier 2023. They have participated in the World Cup Qualifier three times before, and in 2001, they played in the Qualifier round for the first time. The Nepal squad is placed in group A and will face Zimbabwe, West Indies, the United States, and the Netherlands in their group matches.
Nepal will face Zimbabwe in their first match of the World Cup Qualifier round at Harare Sports Club, Harare on 18 June 2023. The second match of Nepal will be played against the United States at Takashinga Cricket Club, Harare on 20 June 2023. On 22 June 2023 at Harare Sports Club, Harare, they will meet West Indies for their 3rd match. And finally, they will contest their last match against the Netherlands on 24 June 2023 in Harare.
Nepal Squad ICC World Cup Qualifiers 2023
- Rohit Paudel (Captain)
- Dipendra Singh Airee
- Arjun Saud (wk)
- Pratis GC
- Gulsan Jha
- Aasif Sheikh (wk)
- Sompal Kami
- Kushal Bhurtel
- Karan KC
- Sandeep Lamichhane
- Kishore Mahato
- Gyanendra Malla
- Kushal Malla
- Lalit Rajbanshi
- Bhim Sharki
- Aarif Sheikh
Nepal will travel to Zimbabwe for ICC World Cup Qualifier under the captaincy of Rohit Paudel along with Monty Desai as a head coach. Arjun Saud and Aasif Sheikh are included in the team to play the role of wicketkeeper. The Nepal skipper Rahul Paudel has got the experience of 36 ODIs where he has added 1157 runs with a single century and 7 half centuries. Led by the rising star Rohit Paudel, this team has been incredibly successful in men's international cricket this year. They have won 13 out of their last 14 matches in the One Day International format in 2023 and this shows that they are in good form. In fact, 11 of those wins came in their final 12 matches during the Cricket World Cup League 2.
In the ICC ODI team ranking, Nepal is currently in the 14th position and this is their best ever in the One Day International. By performing exceptionally well in the Cricket World Cup League 2, the team earned an automatic spot in the upcoming Qualifier. Additionally, they clinched the ACC Premier Cup and secured qualification for the Asia Cup scheduled for later this year.
As of June 2023, Nepal has appeared in 51 ODIs where they achieved victory in 28 matches and faced defeat in 21 ODIs with a winning percentage of 54.9. Their highest inning total in ODI is 310 runs which they made against Oman in Kirtipur on 21 April 2023. On the other hand, their lowest inning total is 103 runs against the United Arab Emirates in Dubai on 21 March 2022. So, it would be interesting to watch how Nepal would perform in the World Cup Qualifier to make its place in ICC Cricket World Cup 2023.