Cricket Kitchen

Nepal batting against UAE, Arjun Kumal makes debut

May 1, 2026

 

Kathmandu – Nepal is facing the UAE today in the ICC World Cup League 2 cricket series. The match is set to begin shortly at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground. Originally scheduled to start at 9:30 AM, the game was slightly delayed due to a wet outfield.

Nepal won the toss and chose to bat first. This is Nepal’s third match of the series against the UAE. Regular openers Kushal Bhurtel and Aasif Sheikh have been rested today, with Arjun Kumal and Binod Bhandari given the opportunity to open.

Arjun Kumal has made his debut in the senior national team after being included in the playing XI.

Previously, Nepal defeated the UAE by 37 runs last Saturday but suffered a heavy 102-run loss against Oman.

The UAE, on the other hand, secured an important 2 points by defeating Oman by 25 runs.

In the League 2 standings featuring eight teams, Nepal is currently in seventh place with 14 points from 22 matches, while the UAE has 12 points from the same number of games.

The United States leads with 36 points from 24 matches, followed by Scotland (34 points from 28 matches), Oman (29 from 25), the Netherlands (28 from 24), Namibia (22 from 28), and Canada (21 from 24), all occupying the top six spots.

In the previous cycle of League 2, Nepal had finished third with 40 points to qualify for the World Cup Global Qualifier, but they are currently far from that position.