KATHMANDU: Nepal is set to take on the Netherlands today in the ICC World Cup League 2 series.

After pulling off a sensational one-wicket victory against host nation Scotland in the opening match, Nepal enters this second game with high morale. The match is scheduled to begin at 3:45 PM Nepali time on Wednesday.

This is Nepal’s second match in the tri-nation series that includes Scotland, the Netherlands, and Nepal. Returning to the longer format after a gap of several months, Nepal is under pressure to win the upcoming games to remain in contention in League 2.

The top four teams in the series will qualify for the Global Qualifier of the World Cup. The bottom four will have to go through a playoff. Currently, Nepal stands seventh on the table with 8 points from 13 matches. Scotland is in fourth place with 20 points from 17 games, while the Netherlands ranks second with 26 points from 20 games.

The United States leads the table with 28 points from 20 matches. Oman is in third place with 24 points, Canada in fifth with 20 points from 20 games, Namibia sixth with 14 points from 20 matches, and the UAE is at the bottom with only 6 points from 16 games.

Nepal is scheduled to play Scotland again on Sunday and face the Netherlands once more next Tuesday. Following the League 2 matches, the three teams will compete in a T20 tri-series.

Nepali Squad
The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced the national team under the captaincy of Rohit Kumar Paudel, Dipendra Singh Airee is the vice-captain.  The squad includes Kushal Bhurtel, Arif Sheikh, Anil Kumar Sah, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Aasif Sheikh, Karan KC, Sompal Kami, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Sandeep Lamichhane, Bhim Sharki, Basir Ahmed, Nandan Yadav, and Rijaan Dhakal.

Stuart Law serves as the head coach, while CAN recently appointed South African Nic Pothas as a consultant coach. Former national captain Gyanendra Malla is serving as the assistant coach.