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Nepal Set to Face Oman and Canada in World Cup League 2

July 30, 2024

Nepal Set to Face Oman and Canada in World Cup League 2: What is the Head To Head result in ODI History?

Nepal is all set to face Oman and Canada in the upcoming ICC World Cup League 2, starting from Bhadra 31 (September 16, 2025). In this video, we will analysis who holds the historical edge in ODIs — how Nepal has fared against these two teams, what the head-to-head record says, and which Nepali players could play key roles in this crucial series.

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Nepal received its ODI status in August 2018 and has faced Oman 7 times in ODI cricket. The first encounter took place on February 5, 2020, at the TU Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. Under the captaincy of Gyanendra Malla, Nepal lost that match by 18 runs, despite winning the toss and opting to bowl first.

That match also marked the ODI debuts of Abinash Bohora and Sushan Bhari. While Bohora remained wicketless, Bhari impressed with figures of 3 wickets for just 14 runs in 10 overs. Supported by Karan KC’s 4 wickets and Dipendra Singh Airee’s 1, Nepal restricted Oman to 197 runs.

Former skipper Paras Khadka and captain Malla opened the innings for Nepal, during a time when Nepal’s opening partnership woes were quite evident. Although Sharad Veswakar scored a crucial half-century, Nepal was bowled out for 179 in 46.5 overs.

Just four days later, on February 9, Nepal played their second ODI against Oman and posted a solid total of 249 runs, with captain Malla scoring a half-century. Eight Nepali batsmen reached double figures, showing a more balanced batting effort. However, the performance wasn’t enough to secure a win — Nepal lost by 8 wickets, with Sushan Bhari and Kushal Malla taking one wicket each.

Head-to-Head: Nepal vs Oman in ODIs

• Total ODIs played: 7

• Nepal wins: 3

• Oman wins: 4

Oman won the first four of the five matches played up to 2022. However, since then, they have failed to beat Nepal in any ODI. With improvements in Nepal’s middle-order batting and spin bowling, the team now has the upper hand. Considering Oman only gained ODI status a year after Nepal, Nepal’s ambition of becoming a Test nation should motivate them to perform confidently — not cautiously.

Canada first played ODI cricket in 1979 and participated in the 2007 and 2011 ODI World Cups. However, they lost ODI status in between and only regained it in 2023, after finishing above Papua New Guinea. This delay meant Nepal and Canada faced off in ODIs for the first time only earlier this year, at Kirtipur.

• Total ODIs played: 3

• Nepal wins: 3

• Canada wins: 0

Nepal won:

• 1st ODI by 7 runs

• 2nd ODI by 4 wickets

• 3rd ODI by a commanding 9 wickets

Despite those losses, Canada bounced back by winning 4 out of 4 matches in the UAE during their next League 2 outing — defeating both UAE and Scotland, two top Associate teams. This shows Canada is on the rise and should not be underestimated.

Nepal started the 2024 League 2 campaign at home, winning just 1 out of their first 4 games. In contrast, Canada began their journey with a perfect 4 out of 4 wins — all away in the UAE. Their aggressive comeback proves that Canada is adapting quickly to international standards.

Canada’s momentum, however, suffered in their second tri-series where they played against Namibia and the Netherlands, losing all matches. This series followed the exit of coach Pubudu Dassanayake, who formerly coached both Nepal and Canada. Since his departure, Canada’s form has dipped noticeably.

Nepal, meanwhile, has gained valuable exposure from tournaments like the Asia Cup and the World Cup Qualifiers, playing against cricketing giants like India, Pakistan, and Ireland. In their last 10 ODIs, Nepal has managed 4 wins, while suffering losses to strong teams including Namibia and the Netherlands.