Nepal to host West Indies A to bolster T20 World Cup preparations

Cricket West Indies (CWI) and the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) have announced that a West Indies 'A' team will go on a historic tour to Nepal. This five-match T20 series, scheduled for April-May 2024, will mark the first time a West Indies side to play in the Himalayan nation.

This tour is aimed to bolster the preparations of both sides for the upcoming T20 World Cup, which is to take place in the Caribbean and the USA in June.

The West Indies, co-hosts of the 2024 T20 World Cup alongside the USA, are placed in Group C, where they will face off against Afghanistan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, and Uganda.

On the other hand, Nepal find themselves in Group D, placed against the likes of the Netherlands, Sri Lanka, South Africa, and Bangladesh. This tour provides a valuable opportunity for both teams to fine-tune their preparations and assess their strengths ahead of the prestigious global event.

The series, comprising five T20 matches, will be played at the Tribhuvan University International Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. All the games are scheduled to start at 1 pm local time, with the first match taking place on April 27, followed by four more encounters. The tour will conclude on Saturday, May 04.

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Excited with the prospect of the West Indies 'A' team touring Nepal: Secretary of CAN

“This A-team tour is another indication of the importance we are placing on A-team cricket and a significant phase in our preparations for the T20 World Cup, It gives us a final opportunity to see many of the contenders for a place in the squad who are not participating in the Indian Premier League (IPL). Even for those players who do not make the final World Cup squad, they will be a part of the reserve pool,” Miles Bascombe, Cricket West Indies' director of cricket, said in a release as quoted by ESPNCricinfo.

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Meanwhile, Paras Khadka, the Secretary of the Cricket Association of Nepal, shared similar sentiments, saying, “We are humbled and excited with the prospect of the West Indies 'A' team touring Nepal. This marks a significant moment in our cricketing history as we embrace this wonderful opportunity bestowed upon us, which will help us prepare significantly for the T20 World Cup and beyond.”

West Indies ‘A’ Tour to Nepal T20 Schedule: