The Nepal cricket team is scheduled to play West Indies in a first-ever bilateral T20I series – Unity Cup, comprising three fixtures to be held in Sharhaj. The tour gets underway from 27th September in Sharjah. However, the Nepal cricket team seems to have landed in a trouble before the series.
If a few social media posts are to be believed, a majority of the members of the Nepal squad are yet to get their visas approved. On the other hand, head coach Stuart Law and Assistant coach Gyanendra Malla have arrived in Dubai.
The delay has disrupted the team’s travel schedule for their crucial series against the West Indies. In the meantime, the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) is coordinating with the ICC and Emirates Cricket to resolve the issue
swiftly and ensure the team departs on time.
The Unity Cup not only marks Nepal’s last tune-up before the ICC T20 World Cup Regional Final but also a first-ever bilateral series against a Test-playing nation.
Earlier on Thursday, Cricket West Indies announced their squad for the upcoming series against Nepal. The Caribbean side have decided to rest a host of key players, with skipper Shai Hope, pacer Alzarri Joseph and batter Johnson Charles among the white-ball stars that will sit out the series.
It will see spinner Akeal Hosein lead the side as captain, with fellow regulars Fabian Allen, Jason Holder and Kyle Mayers to provide support during the three matches that commence on September 27.
A total of five players are in line for their international debut during the series, with batter Ackeem Auguste, all-rounder Navin Bidaisee, spinner Zishan Motara, pacer Ramon Simmonds and keeper Amir Jangoo all included in the playing group.
Here are the squads:
Nepal: Rohit Paudel (c), Dipendra Airee, Aasif Sheikh, Sandeep Lamichhane, Kushal Bhurtel, Lokesh Bam, Kushal Malla, Md Adil Alam, Aarif Sheikh, Sundeep Jora, Karan KC, Nandan Yadav, Gulshan Jha, Lalit Rajbansi, Sompal Kami, Shahab Alam
West Indies squad: Akeal Hosein (c), Fabian Allen, Jewel Andrew, Ackeem Auguste, Navin Bidaisse, Jediah Blades, Keacy Carty, Karima Gore, Jason Holder, Amir Jangoo, Kyle Mayers, Obed McCoy, Zishan Motara, Ramon Simmonds, Shamar Springer
NEP vs WI Fixture
First T20I: 27th September, Sharjah
Second T20I: 29th September, Sharjah
Third T20I: 30th September, Sharjah