Published: Jul 05, 2016, 01:31 PM (IST)
Edited: Jul 05, 2016, 01:31 PM (IST)
Nepal’s three-member selection panel announced the squad that is set to play Marylebone Cricket Club in a historic one-off match in London. The 15-member squad as expected will be led by Paras Khadka. The venue of the match makes it more special as Nepal and the oldest English cricket club, MCC, will play the 50-over match at the iconic Lord’s on July 19. Nepal national team are scheduled to depart for Britain on July 11. The International Cricket Council (ICC) had formed the selection team of head coach Jagat Tamatta and skipper Khadka with Asia Development Officer Venkatapathy Raju as the advisor. Khadka will have Gyanendra Malla as his deputy on the big day. READ: Paras Khadka takes Nepal to 5th spot in World Cricket League Championship
This match will mark the 200-year bilateral relationship between Nepal and the United Kingdom. This is the first participation of the national team following the suspension of the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) by the ICC owing to internal conflicts. Since then ICC has been handling Nepal Cricket since then.
According to HimalayanTimes.com, Nepal will play 4 other games in England as their preparation for the World Cricket League Championship fourth-round matches against the Netherlands in August. This is the second occasion when ICC has directly interfered in team selection after the World Cricket League Championship match against Namibia in March.
The Nepali community reportedly has been drawing approximately 10,000 fans for the game. On the other hand MCC has also prepared to bring spectators from the English, Pakistani, Sri Lankan and Indian communities. Embassy of Nepal, Non-Resident Nepalese Association, Nepal Tourism Board in UK are helping organisers in making the event a big success.
Nepal’s 15-member squad: Paras Khadka (c), Gyanendra Malla (vc), Shakti Gauchan, Basanta Regmi, Sharad Vesawkar, Sompal Kami, Sagar Pun, Binod Bhandari, Subas Khakurel, Karan KC, Anil Kumar Mandal, Sandeep Lamichhane, Bikram Sob, Raju Rijal and Rajesh Pulami Magar
