Nepal squad for the T20 against MCC and ODI series vs Netherlands

Nepalese team is set to play a T20 against the MCC side at the Lord’s Cricket Ground on the tour to England. Nepal will also make their ODI debut with a two-match series against the Netherlands. The two matches will be played on August 1 and 3. Left-arm spinner Shakti Gauchan who has been named in the squad will retire after the conclusion of the tour.

Very recently Nepal was awarded ODI status after they finished runners-up in WCL Championship in December 2017. They also earned T20I status when the International Cricket Council (ICC) decided to award International status to all the associate and affiliate nations which will come in effect from January 2019.

Gauchan was a part of the XI in just one match at the World Cup Qualifier played in Zimbabwe earlier this year. He has been included in the 15-man squad for the Lord’s T20 as well as the ODI series. The 34-year-old made his debut back in 2002 and has played 191 matches across formats to date.

Mentoring Lamichhane

With all the experience he has, the veteran has still struggled to make a cut as leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane has been the preferred spinner for the team along with Basant Regmi. Despite that, the selectors have continued to pick Gauchan in the squad to mentor the young team. The selectors have maintained the same squad that played the WC Qualifiers except for one change – wicketkeeper-batsman Subash Khakurel comes in for Dilip Nath.

All eyes will be on the 17-year-old Lamichhane who made his Indian Premier League (IPL) debut earlier this year playing for the Delhi Daredevils. He played three matches for the team and picked up 5 wickets. He has been groomed by the likes of Michael Clarke under the watchful eyes of Shane Warne who is also his idol. At DD, he was monitored by another Australian in Ricky Ponting, the head coach of the team. Having shared the dressing room with some of the biggest names in the game he will want to make a mark for the national team now.

Nepal squad for the T20 against MCC and Netherlands ODIs:

Paras Khadka (C), Dipendra Singh Airee, Lalit Bhandari, Shakti Gauchan, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Subash Khakurel (wk), Sandeep Lamichhane, Gyanendra Malla, Rohit Paudel, Lalit Rajbanshi, Basant Regmi, Anil Sah, Aarif Sheikh, Sharad Vesawkar

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