Nepal’s hopes of making a strong impact at their second-ever ICC Men’s T20 World Cup face a significant hurdle as batting inconsistencies continue to plague the team. Coach Monty Desai has unveiled his final 15-man squad for the tournament, and while there is experience in the ranks, recent performances have raised serious concerns about Nepal’s ability to put up competitive scores.
The announcement comes on the heels of a demoralizing 76-run recent defeat to West Indies A, further exposing Nepal’s struggles with the bat. Despite skipper Rohit Paudel’s recent return to form, several key players like Binod Bhandari, Aarif Sheikh, Bibek Yadav, and Lokesh Bam have been dropped from the World Cup squad due to their underwhelming performances.
Desai’s decision to retain the out-of-form Kushal Bhurtel and Anil Sah raises questions, while the inclusion of newcomers Kamal Singh Airee and Sagar Dhakal is seen as a gamble based on their limited exposure at the highest level.
The presence of veterans like Sompal Kami and Lalit Rajbanshi offers some stability, but the key for Nepal will be finding a way to reignite their batting firepower. With the World Cup looming, time is running out to address this critical weakness.
The weight of history hangs heavy on this squad. Nepal’s 2014 T20 World Cup campaign became a defining moment in Nepali cricket history. While they fell short of advancing, victories against Hong Kong and Afghanistan inspired a generation of young cricketers. Sompal Kami, the sole veteran from the 2014 team, carries the torch of that legacy into this year’s tournament.
Nepal faces an uphill battle in Group D, pitted against heavyweights like the Netherlands, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, and South Africa. Their campaign begins on June 4th against the Dutch, and they’ll need to find their batting rhythm quickly if they hope to make a mark in the tournament.
