Nepal has been placed in the group of death which includes Karnataka Institute of India and Pakistan. Hosts Maldives will meet Bhutan in the other match of the opening day. [break]
In the past 10 years, Nepal has faced Test-playing Sri Lanka thrice and lost all the time.
In the closest, and the latest contest, Nepal suffered a two-wicket defeat in the Asian Games held in China last year. Batting first Nepal were restricted to just 72 runs. Gyanendra Malla was the highest scorer with 30 runs off 30 balls.
Sri Lanka had successfully chased the target in 18.5 overs losing eight wickets with Jeevantha Kulatunga scoring 20 runs. Paras Khadka, Basanta Regmi and Amrit Bhattarai had grabbed two wickets each.
Other two encounters were in the Youth World Cups in 2008 and 2000. Nepal faced 61-run defeat in the group match of 2008 Youth World Cup in Malaysia. In 2000, Sri Lanka beat Nepal by nine wickets at home ground in super league match.
During the farewell function organized by the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) on Friday, Captain Paras Khadka said the team targets to win every match. Khadka said the team is taking the tournament as a good practice opportunity for the upcoming ACC Twenty20 Cup.
“Sri Lankan team could be well prepared but our team is focusing on its strength. We will execute our plans on the ground,” said skipper Khadka on the eve of the opening match.
And for Pudoku Dassanayake, the Sri Lankan coach of the Nepali team, this will be the first tournament. He said the team will perform well in the tournament. Dassanayake said he identified the weaknesses of the Nepali team and has trained them accordingly to overcome those.
“I had heard that Nepali team’s strength is in bowling and fielding and I found it true,” he said. “We have been working to improve batting, and now the batsmen can play a few extra shots required for T20.”
He also said that he is only half-way through the fitness workplan.
The revised Schedule
Nov 1: Maldives Vs Bhutan / Sri Lanka Vs Nepal
Nov 2: Afghanistan Vs Maldives / India (KIC) Vs Pakistan
Nov 3: Nepal Vs India / Pakistan Vs Sri Lanka
Nov 4: Sri Lanka Vs India / Bhutan Vs Afghanistan
Nov 5: Nepal Vs Pakistan
Nov 6: Semi Final 1 and Semi Final 2
Nov 7: Final
Sri Lanka Under-25 squad: Umesh Karunaratne (Captain), Angelo Perera (Vice-captain), Dhanushka Gunatillake, Udara Jayasundara, Bhanuka Rajapaksa, Shehan Jayasuriya, Rumesh Buddhika, Ramith Rambukwella, Denuwan Rajakaruna, Kasun Madhushanka, Lahiru Jayaratne, Irosh Samarasuriya, Sanitha de Mel, Akila Isanka
Nepal Under-25 squad: Paras Khadka(Captain), Gyanendra Malla (Vice-captain), Sharad Vesawkar, Mahesh Chhetry, Anil Mandal, Amrit Bhattarai, Rahul BK, Pradeep Airee, Prithu Baskota, Naresh Budhayer, Binod Bhandari, Krishna Karki, Bhuwan Karki and Abhinash Karn.
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