KATHMANDU: Before the T20 series against West Indies in the UAE, serious questions had arisen about Nepal’s team balance.

The team’s weaknesses had already been exposed in Australia during the Top End T20 series, where Nepal collapsed after early wickets, bowlers struggled even against club-level batters, and basic fielding errors shook the squad’s confidence.

As a result, Nepal returned home with only two wins out of six matches, finishing eighth among 11 teams.

In this backdrop, skepticism about facing the West Indies was natural.

Yet, at Sharjah International Cricket Stadium, Nepal stunned everyone by defeating the two-time T20 World Cup champions 2–1.

The series victory turned the disappointment in Australia into renewed confidence, showing Nepal’s ability to rise when opportunities arrive.

With this momentum, Nepal now heads to Oman on October 8 for the World Cup Qualifiers, aiming to play the global tournament for the third time.

The series against West Indies has laid a strong foundation for this ambitious campaign.

Captain Rohit Paudel said, “We showed we could handle pressure even in unfavorable conditions and successfully executed our plans. The series gave us great confidence and was crucial preparation for the qualifiers. We want to carry this momentum forward.”

Lingering weaknesses

Despite the confidence, doubts remain about Nepal’s consistency.

After excellent performances in the first two matches, Nepal suffered a heavy 10-wicket defeat in the third game.

In all three matches, Nepal chose to bat first regardless of the toss. But only in the second game did they post a strong score.

Overall, Nepal still appears dependent on two or three players.

In the first match, Rohit Paudel and Kushal Malla shared a 58-run stand, taking Nepal to 148.

With part-time bowling contributions from Kushal Bhurtel and Rohit, Nepal won by 19 runs for a historic victory.

In the second match, Nepal stumbled early at 43–3 but recovered thanks to opener Aasif Sheikh and debutant Sandeep Jora’s century stand.

With Bhurtel taking three wickets and Mohammed Aadil Ansari—returning after three years—claiming four, Nepal sealed the series.

However, the final game exposed Nepal’s flaws, as only Bhurtel performed above average and the team was crushed by 10 wickets.

While the first two matches showed unity and resilience, Nepal still struggles with batting continuity, long partnerships, and strike rotation.

Bowling plans, too, were not always fully successful.

Fielding, however, was a highlight, with stability and execution under pressure offering positive signs.

Still, stronger performances will be needed for the World Cup journey.

The real test ahead

From October 8–17, Oman’s Al Amerat Cricket Ground will host the Asia-Pacific Regional T20 Qualifiers final.

Nepal’s target is to secure a top-three finish, which would guarantee a World Cup berth.

Sixteen teams have already qualified, with two spots left from Africa and three from Asia. Nepal aims to clinch one of these.

This will be Nepal’s third World Cup qualification attempt, after appearances in the 2014 T20 World Cup in Bangladesh and last year’s edition in the USA and West Indies.

Alongside Nepal, Oman and Papua New Guinea will join directly in the regional qualifiers, while UAE, Japan, Kuwait, Malaysia, Samoa, and Qatar compete from sub-regional events.

The nine teams are split into three groups: Nepal is in Group B with Japan and Kuwait; Group A has UAE, Malaysia, and Qatar; Group C has Oman, PNG, and Samoa.

The top two teams from each group advance to the Super Six, and the top three overall qualify for the World Cup.

Bhurtel remarked, “Our first goal was to beat the West Indies, then to qualify for the T20 World Cup. Seeing the current situation, we are confident about making it.”

Nepal appears to have relatively easier opponents in the group stage, but reaching the top three will be tougher. UAE and Oman, both strong teams, recently prepared by facing India and Pakistan.

Even lower-ranked PNG and Kuwait are dangerous—Kuwait had defeated Nepal by three runs in a quadrangular series final in Hong Kong just five months ago.

Thus, Nepal’s journey remains full of challenges, keeping fans on edge about the outcome.