Cricket Kitchen

Nepal Cricket’s Australia Tour and World Cup Preparations

August 14, 2025

 

Kathmandu – This year is considered a challenging one for the Nepal national men’s cricket team. The team faces the significant challenge of qualifying for the T20 World Cup, making it a crucial phase in Nepal’s cricket journey.

Nepal first played in the T20 World Cup in 2014, under the captaincy of Paras Khadka. After an encouraging performance in the 2024 edition, expectations are high for Nepal to qualify for the third time. The responsibility now lies on the shoulders of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) officials, including Secretary Khadka himself.

The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Asia and East Asia-Pacific Qualifier is set to be held in Oman this October. Out of the nine participating teams, the top three will qualify for the World Cup. In the group stage, Nepal will face Kuwait and Japan.

Nepal’s strong showing in the 2024 World Cup—despite narrowly losing to teams like South Africa and Bangladesh—has raised hopes for qualification this time. The team also had a productive training camp in Bengaluru, India, and is now focused on the Top End T20 Series in Australia.

During this tour, Nepal will play against several strong teams including sides from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Australia, providing invaluable experience.

Under the guidance of new head coach Stewart Law, a former Australian national team batter who took charge in March, Nepal has reached Australia for this critical preparation phase. Nepal is participating in the Top End T20 Cricket Tournament in Darwin from August 14 to 24, marking their debut in the tournament. The team will face top international and domestic sides, starting with Northern Territory Strike on Friday.

Earlier this year, Nepal secured second place in a T20I series against Netherlands and Scotland, and will play a friendly series against West Indies in Sharjah this September, offering further match exposure before the qualifiers.

Cricket has now established itself as Nepal’s most prominent sport. Among the many sports associations under the National Sports Council, CAN is regarded as one of the most successful based on its achievements.

Leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane, who has previous experience playing in Australia, brings added value to the team. He has played for Melbourne Stars and Hobart Hurricanes in the Big Bash League (BBL) and began his journey in 2016 under the mentorship of former Australian captain Michael Clarke, who invited him to play for the Western Suburbs Club in Sydney. While Lamichhane is not currently under a central contract with CAN, he continues to represent Nepal.

Inspired by his contribution to Nepali cricket, a stadium is being constructed in his home district of Syangja, and his biography is included in Grade 4 curriculum.

Due to personal tragedy, spinner Lalit Rajbanshi could not travel to Australia, and Shahab Alam has been included in the squad in his place.

Ahead of the Australia tour, the Nepal Premier League (NPL) player auction took place, boosting player morale. Despite financial challenges faced by players, the announcement of multi-lakh rupee contracts for a single tournament has been uplifting. Eight national players were selected for NPL teams, and 91 players in total were picked with salaries ranging from Rs. 200,000 to Rs. 1.5 million.

Former national coach Jagat Tamatta was invited as the chief guest at the closing ceremony of a recent cricket tournament in Australia. He met with past players and contributors to Nepal cricket. Local organizations like the Nepalese Cricket Association of Australia continue to strengthen ties between Nepali and Australian communities through cricket.

Several former Nepali players now reside in Australia and often participate in local matches. Nepali players signed with local clubs also represented NPL Australia, an initiative that mirrors the NPL held in Nepal.

Wherever the national team goes abroad, they receive a warm welcome from the Nepali diaspora. Fans often take leave from work to attend matches, dressed in team jerseys and waving national flags, creating an electrifying atmosphere in stadiums.

This overwhelming support from the global Nepali community boosts player morale. With a large Nepali population in Australia, a significant turnout is expected for Nepal’s matches in Darwin. The grand welcome at Darwin International Airport upon the team’s arrival was a moment of national pride.

The Non-Resident Nepali Association (NRNA) has called on all Nepali fans in Australia to show their support by wearing red and blue, and bringing national flags to the stadium. This is expected to motivate the national team and strengthen the spirit of unity among Nepalis globally.

With valuable experience gained from playing against top-tier teams in Australia, Nepal is expected to sharpen its cricketing skills and strategies—vital for opening the door to 2026 T20 World Cup qualification.

By Raju Silwal–RSS