The Nepal cricket team registered a historic feat on Saturday, September 27, as they defeated a Test-playing nation for the first time.Rohit Paudel'smen defeated a young and inexperienced West Indies side at the iconic Sharjah Cricket Stadium by 19 runs.
Paudel led from the front, top-scoring for Nepal with a 35-ball 38. The Asian side finished on 148/8 after being asked to bat first. In reply, the West Indies were restricted to 129/9. Nepal's bowling as well as fielding efforts were commendable.
They executed their plans to perfection to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match series.
“It’s feeling great, a long wait to beat a Test-playing country, that too in a series we are hosting. I want to dedicate this award to the martyrs back home who participated in the protest. The last month has not been great for us, so if we can give a little bit of happiness to the people of Nepal, that would be great,” Paudel said after the match.
The demonstrations he referred to started after Nepal’s government temporarily blocked social media platforms such as Facebook, X and YouTube, citing regulatory disputes. The ban quickly escalated into wider protests against alleged corruption and state violence, resulting in violent clashes with police, where at least 22 people lost their lives and hundreds more were injured.
A confident Paudel said that his team came to the United Arab Emirates confident about their chances of winning the series. He asserted that his team will stay grounded and try to follow the process diligently.
“The mindset was very clear, if we are coming here, we are there to win the series. We will stay grounded, do the process right, and see whatever comes next," he added.
The second T20I is set to be played at the same venue on Monday, September 29. Akeal Hosein-led West Indies will have to win this encounter to keep themselves alive in the series.
