For the Nepal Cricket Team, it was a day of intense joy and history. They have finally qualified for the Asia Cup 2023 after much effort and great cricket. This will be the inaugural Asia Cup for Nepal. Nepal has secured their spot in Group A with India and Pakistan thanks to a victory over the United Arab Emirates in the Premier Cup finals.
In a low-scoring match, Nepal Cricket Team defeated UAE by 7 wickets to qualify for the Asia Cup for the first time. In addition, regarding the Asia Cup 2023, the uncertainty has now been removed. The BCCI and PCB have agreed on a hybrid model for the Asia Cup 2023.
Nepal, UAE, and Oman will compete against five-member “A” Teams from the region at the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup in July.
Nepal defeat UAE to enter the Asia Cup 2023
On a bowler-friendly day, the Premier Cup hosts Nepal bowled out UAE for just 117 runs. Lalit Rajbansi, a left-arm spinner, with his 4 wickets while only allowing 14 runs in his 7.2 overs of play. The bowlers from Nepal were at the top of their game and hungry to make Kirtipur history. Nepal made a bad start to their 118-run chase, losing both of its openers in the first 20 deliveries.
Soon after, UAE had a chance after captain Rohit Paudel also lost his wicket. But number three for Nepal, Gulshan Jha, with his fifty-six, got Nepal Cricket Team ready to fly for the Asia Cup in September 2023. Gulshan and Bhim Sharki (36), who were both unbeaten, reached 67. Together, they scored 96 runs, giving Nepal their most vital victory ever.
The ACC Premier Cup has a total of 10 teams. The Premier Cup is a venue for the associate nations to qualify for the ACC Asia Cup competition. In 2022, Hong Kong competed as an associate country with the 5 ACC test-playing nations. This marks Nepal’s first big victory in cricket.
Before this, they competed in the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh, where they were eliminated in the first round of qualifying. In that starting round, Nepal won against Afghanistan and Hong Kong. Due to their spot between two elite nations, Pakistan and India, the 2023 Asia Cup would be tough.
Hybrid Model Agreed for Asia Cup 2023
The Asia Cup 2023 will probably take place from August 31 until September 17. The famous competition will take place in Pakistan and Sri Lanka using a hybrid format. The vital clash between arch-rivals India and Pakistan will take place on September 17 (Sunday).
According to the Asian Cricket Council, India, Pakistan, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Nepal will play 13 ODIs (One Day Internationals) at the Asia Cup. Pakistan will host four matches of the Asia Cup, while Sri Lanka, the reigning champions, will play home to nine matches of the main competition.
After BCCI’s concerns about visiting Pakistan for the Asia Cup, the hybrid format was put into place. Pakistan had initially been granted exclusive rights to host the competition.
In a previous report, it was revealed that Lahore would host four non-Indian teams in the tournament’s opening round after the supreme cricket board of India approved the request. India had made it plain that it would not visit Pakistan due to security reasons in a statement made by Jay Shah, the BCCI secretary and ACC chairman.
Two groups will make up the Asia Cup in 2023, and only two teams from each group will be guaranteed spots in the Super Four stage. In the Asia Cup final, the top teams from the Super Four stage will face off.
Nepal Probable Squad for Asia Cup 2023
Nepal has been put together with Pakistan and India. They are the weakest team in their inaugural Asia Cup debut, but they will love to put on a great performance. Here, we go through Nepal’s likely 2023 Asia Cup roster.
Openers – Kushal Bhurtel And Aasif Sheikh (WK)
Middle-Order Batsman – Rohit Paudel (Captain), Gyanendra Malla, Bhim Sharki, And Aarif Sheikh
All-Rounders– Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Pratis GC, Kishore Mahato, And Lalit Rajbanshi
Spinner – Sandeep Lamichhane
Fast Bowlers – Gulsan Jha, Sompal Kami, And Karan KC
