Team Nepal desperately in need of winning performance to turn the tide in their favor

 

Once again the men’s national cricket team of Nepal  will be back in action ,following their unfortunate exit from the Asian Games Twenty20 International in Japan recently.

They will feature in the  crucial ICC World Cup League 2  One Day International tri-series against Oman and Canada in Oman  to continue their campaign to qualify for the  14th edition of the championship round.

The bottom four teams from CWC  League 2 and  Challenge League will clash in the  eight-team playoff World Cup  qualifier  with top four teams advancing to the final round.

The series is another big opportunity  for Team Nepal to bounce back and keep their qualification hopes alive. Besides, more importantly, they  have to safeguard their one day status, which is at stake.

Keeping in consideration, the challenges they are shouldering,obviously,they are under heavy pressure to put in a winning performance to overcome the odds.

Currently, they stand 7th in the CWC League 2 table standings and have a challenging task ahead of them.

Left with no option,they must make a significant and meaningful move in the table standings to make a dramatic comeback  in the qualifiers.In other words, they have to win every single  match  and jump to sixth place in to keep  their ODI status intact,

It will require a herculean effort on their part to come out trumps. They have to put in every bit of  effort and perform  at their very best to overcome the challenge.

This is a pivotal moment for them to rise to the occasion and deliver the result when it is desperately needed.

They have to be at the top of their game collectively and individually  throughout the series.Apart from that, high level consistency in  players performance in every department of  the game is required.

Given the magnitude  of the series, there is virtually no  room for mediocre,insipid  and error prone performance. Every player  must  maintain a winning mindset, stay focused, confident,disciplined,fully apply themselves and play to their ability.

Having won the ACC Men’s   Premier Cup  ODI cricket tournament in Malaysia and performed well in the Asian GamesT20,they have the momentum going into the upcoming tri series in Oman. 

Oman and Canada are fourth and sixth  respectively in table standings. Team Nepal does have  a realistic chance to come out victorious based on their  head-to-head records against them.

 

Let us not forget that in the recently concluded ACC Men’s Premier Cup ODI in Malaysia they had registered an impressive victory over Oman in the semi- final. 

Keep in mind,in 7 ODIs against Oman, Nepal has  lost six and won 5 matches .  Similarly, against  Canada they have won 3 and lost 2 matches. 

My assumption is that it will be a tightly and closely fought series with all three  sides with  no clear favorites . 

Apparently, the outfit that peaks performance, performs most consistently across all areas of the game, batting, bowling and fielding throughout  the series is most likely to triumph.

Ace spinner Sandeep Lamichhane spearheads a team  blended with experience, versatility, rising  talent and skillful players.

The players have to  keep in their minds the importance  of the series and put  everything into optimizing the chance of playing to place the team in a winning position and fully showcase their collective and individual brilliance.

This is a huge opportunity for players not only to prove themselves to the cricketing world, but, more importantly ,to take the  team off the hook on all fronts.

It is very clear that selectors have included rising batters Arjun Kumal,Dev Khanal and Sundeep Jora to consolidate the team’s batting that has become inconsistent at times .The trio must not let the chance go to waste in order to justify their selection and cement their place in the team.

They have to work on their shortcomings and  consistently come up with big knocks to solidify the batting.

Making it to   the squad are Bashir Ahmed, Shahab Alam  and Sher  Malla who are expected to bolster the bowling attack.

A  few prominent and very experienced players Kushal Bhurtel, Aarf Sheikh, Binod  Bhandari,Bhim Sarki and Sompal Kami  did not make it to the team.

I strongly feel a player in the caliber of Sompal  Kami should have been in the team based on his past experiences and talent .

Highly experienced players in the likes of skipper Lamicchane , Dipendra  Singh Airee.Katan KC Aasif Sheikh ,Rohit  Paudel and Lalit Rajbhansi have a huge role to play in the team’s overall performance and success. They must be in  good form and lead the team by example.

Both batting and bowling needs to be very consistent and to a new level in the entire series.The players are bound to come under intense pressure in order to live up to their expectations. They have to up the ante.

Nepal’s victory over Oman in the warm up game is a positive sign and provides them important momentum and has  lifted players  confidence and spirit.