Team Nepal faces challenge to defy odds against Scotland

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The  men’s national cricket team of Nepal’s 2025 competitive  season  kicks off  with the ICC Cricket  World Cup League 2 tri-series in Scotland,starting June 2nd.


They are up against formidable  Scotland and the Netherlands in the tri-series. They face  hosts Scotland in the opener on June 2nd.


After the conclusion of the league the three teams  will compete in the T20 series in Scotland as well. 


Team Nepal  is under the new  head coach Australian Stuart Law who replaced Indian Monty Desai.


As part of preparation for the upcoming Cricket World  Cup League 2 series the team  reached the  United Kingdom several weeks  before the  start of the series to play practice matches.


They played a mix  of one day and T20 matches in  England  against Cardiff University,Marylebone Cricket Club and two county sides  Gloucestershire and Glamorgan. They wound up the preparatory matches against  Scotland A, playing two matches.


Overall,the team played fairly well and must carry the momentum forward  to the Tri-series.


Finally Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) did the  right thing by working out  a relevant,timely and appropriate preparation schedule for the team.


Furthermore,the cricket body appointed  South African  coach Nic Pothas  as consultant coach  of the national team for the sole purpose of bolstering the performance.


Skipper  and right-handed  batter Rohit Paudel leads an experienced squad studded with promising  and seasoned players.


The majority of players have plenty of international experience, but they have failed to showcase collective efforts to achieve success for the team lately.


The  time has come for them to stand out and deliver the  result to end the team’s slump and turn things around in the ongoing league.


The players must have the  focus,right mindset and demonstrate a high level of commitment to overcome the odds stacked against them.


There is a need for them to learn from mistakes and make adjustments to their game  accordingly.


They have to be on top of their game. It is imperative that they contribute to their maximum potential.


Given the  team’s  fragile batting over the years, it is their biggest weakness.  Therefore,their success largely hinges on batting.  


The top-order batters have to put in a strong, disciplined  and consistent batting. With the pitch  and breezy conditions favoring seam bowlers,batters face further challenges,no doubt. 


In the table standings,the Netherlands  and Scotland are second  and  fourth respectively .Only  six points separate the two sides. 


In sharp contrast  with six points Nepal is   languishing at the bottom of the table, trailing the Netherlands  and Scotland by  20 and 14 points respectively.


The top four teams in the ongoing league competition advance to the World Cup Qualifiers.


While the four bottom finishers have to battle  out with promoted teams for the One Day International (ODI) status.


Having played fewer matches than the two opponents, Nepal  can narrow the gap provided they are able to win the majority of matches on hand.


If Nepal fails to make significant progress in the tri-series in Scotland,they will get closer  to the  unthinkable scenario of  having  to compete to safeguard their One Day International (ODI) status. 



 


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