Nepal faces acid test against Pakistan

The men’s national cricket team of Nepal makes its  Asia Cup One-  Day International debut against co-host  Pakistan in Multan,Pakistan on August 30th  in the opener of  the highly anticipated tournament.

It may be recalled that the competition held every two years was switched to hybrid model  following India’s refusal to play in Pakistan.

As a result, the 50- over  tournament  organized by the Asian Cricket Council is  being co-hosted by Pakistan and Sri Lanka. 

Of the total 13 matches, four will be held in Pakistan  and nine in Sri Lanka.

The sixteenth edition championship features six teams India, Sri Lanka, Pakistan,Bangladesh, Afghanistan and Nepal.

Nepal  has been handed a very  tough group. They are in  Group A alongside  India and Pakistan,while defending champions Sri Lanka, Afghanistan and Bangladesh feature in Group B.

The best two teams from each group advance to the Super Four round. The final is slated for September 17th  in Colombo, Sri Lanka.

Since the start of Asia Cup in 1984 India has  been the most successful team winning seven times.  

A close second is  Sri Lanka with  six titles ,while Pakistan  has won 2 times. The competition has  been  mostly played in ODI format while in  2016  and 2022  in T20 format.

 

This is a  big opportunity for the youthful Nepali outfit to cross swords with two titans of world cricket.

No doubt,they face a monumental  challenge against the  seasoned and experienced opponents.

To say that  they stand  very little chance  would not  be an understatement, specially based  on the opposition’s world rankings ,history,records and strengths.

For the first time in the  cricket history of Nepal,they face the national teams of India and Pakistan at full strength  in a tournament of  Asia Cup stature.

Team Nepal should not  get distracted, panic and worry too much about the  opponents stature and  conceivable outcome.

Though sports is unpredictable and full of uncertainties, in my opinion defeat for Nepal is a foregone conclusion.

I say this largely because of the team’s glaring weaknesses  in both batting and bowling,coupled with inconsistency, inexperience,lackluster performance in the ICC World Cup Qualifier in Zimbabwe and the high quality opponents they are up against.

Foremost Nepal’s qualification to  the Asia Cup after dime-a-dozen tries in itself was  a  big achievement and a very important breakthrough.

Given the context, every member of the team must cherish and relish this  rare opportunity and make the most  of it.

The competition has provided  these young talents  one of the biggest platforms in their  career to date to  showcase their skills. 

They  could not have  asked for a bigger  international platform. Now they are on the verge of playing against  not only formidable but world  class opponents who have been dominating  international cricket.

More than the results, what matters most for Team Nepal  is gaining valuable experience and learning the finer aspects of batting, bowling and fielding.

They  are one hundred percent  underdogs against the superpowers of cricket and have nothing to lose in the true sense.

In my analysis they are in a win -win position.Keeping that in mind they must approach both matches with utmost focus, confidence,self-belief,motivation, determination and positive match temperament.

They have a chance to impress and dazzle on the game’s big stage.They must grasp the opportunity and do whatever it takes to  do the  very best they can with it to leave a mark. 

For that Team  Nepal must rise to the  occasion and consistently  put  together an  extraordinary  performance.