KATHMANDU: Nepal, gearing up for its third T20 World Cup, appears far from adequately prepared. Without serious planning from the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the team risks losing even the reputation it has built in the past.

Nepali captain Rohit Kumar Paudel, 23, who led the national team in the 2024 World Cup co-hosted by the USA and West Indies, is now preparing for the upcoming challenge. After a disappointing performance in the previous World Cup, he faces an even bigger test this time.

Next month, the World Cup will be held jointly in India and Sri Lanka. Nepal is in Group C alongside strong teams such as England, West Indies, Ireland, Bangladesh, and Italy, making their path far from easy.

Among these, England, two-time T20 World Cup winners in 2010 and 2022, stands out as the strongest and most experienced team. In the past year alone, England played 18 T20 matches, winning eight and losing four, proving they are in excellent form.

Meanwhile, the Nepali team has yet to engage in substantial preparation. So far, they have been practicing only in a limited setup at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Ground in Kirtipur. In a few days, the national squad plans to move to Bhairahawa for floodlight practice.

The T20 World Cup trophy at the Tribhuvan University Cricket Stadium. Photo: CAN

“We will go to Bhairahawa soon. Not everything is finalized yet. In a day or two, we will know exactly where we will train,” said Captain Paudel.

High hype, weak preparation

For a resource-limited nation like Nepal, maintaining continuity in the World Cup is itself a major achievement. Nepal first reached this historic stage in 2014, competing in Chattogram, Bangladesh, against the host, Afghanistan, and Hong Kong.

At that time, Afghanistan and Hong Kong had not yet reached their current strength. Both were considered associate nations, like Nepal, making the competition relatively balanced. Nepal achieved notable success by defeating Hong Kong by 80 runs and Afghanistan by 9 runs, though an 8-wicket loss to Bangladesh meant they fell short in net run rate and missed the Super-10 stage.

Ten years later, Nepal returned to the same platform in 2024. But while Afghanistan had significantly improved, even achieving Test status, Nepal’s standing remained largely unchanged.

During the 2024 ICC T20 World Cup, Nepal did not face Afghanistan in the group stage. Excluding strong South Africa, Nepal’s performance in other games was also underwhelming.

In Group D, Nepal lost narrowly to associate nation Netherlands by 6 runs. They were defeated by South Africa by 1 run and Bangladesh by 21 runs. Even opposing players praised Nepal for being inexperienced on the big stage.

At that time, Nepal had spent two months preparing in the USA. South African former star bowler Dale Steyn, after a narrow victory over Nepal, remarked, “It was an incredible game. Even though it was South Africa’s match, I sympathized with Nepal. They deserved to win but couldn’t reach the finishing line.”

Nepal is now entering its second consecutive and overall, third T20 World Cup, with high hopes from international fans. But can Nepal overcome teams like England, Italy, and Bangladesh to progress from the group stage?

To succeed, CAN needed long-term planning, continuous practice, international preparation matches, and adequate investment. However, with the tournament approaching, CAN has been caught up in the unavailability of home grounds, citing scheduling conflicts.

“Our schedule has been busy, and it remains the same. A women’s World Cup global qualifier is happening at our home grounds, so it wasn’t possible to play with Test nations there,” said CAN President Chatur Bahadur Chand.

Nepal’s current World Cup preparation still appears insufficient. If CAN does not take the situation seriously, the reputation Nepal has built over the years could be at risk.

Despite these challenges, Nepal recently played a three-match T20 series against West Indies in Sharjah, UAE, winning 2–1. Encouraged by that performance, they also won the Asia Qualifier in Oman last October, remaining unbeaten.

Nepali team’s Arif Sheikh practicing nets at the camp at Extratech Oval in Bhairahawa. Photo: CAN

Now, there is no room for errors in preparation or management. With the global cricketing community starting to recognize Nepal as a serious competitor, the team must elevate its standards accordingly.

Looking at India as an example, it’s not just the national team but also domestic cricket that is world-class. Tournaments like the Ranji Trophy, Vijay Hazare Trophy, and IPL act as player factories, ensuring a continuous talent pipeline. This is why India always has multiple options and a strong squad.

Nepal now stands at a crossroads, with international opportunities knocking. Whether the team can make the most of them depends on CAN’s strategic capability and long-term planning.