Nepal is set to participate in the World T20 Qualifiers to be held in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in November and the Cricket World Cup Qualifiers to be held in New Zealand in January, 2014. Nepali team coach Pubudu Dassanayake said his team would try to put up a good show in Singapore and try to win matches in the tournament starting Saturday. "We´ll try everything to win matches during the tournament. We´ll try to be on par with Afghanistan in the tournament," said the coach.[break]
Nepal and Afghanistan have met five times in the past in the 50-over format. Nepal had defeated Afghanistan in the ACC Trophy Elite 2004, which marked Afghanistan´s first international participation in cricket. Since then, Afghanistan has defeated Nepal in all their four meetings. Afghanistan, which defeated Nepal in the World Cricket League Division 5 held in Jersey in 2008, has made great progress in international cricket and has already achieved ODI status.
It has already played the World T20 Cup twice -- in 2010 and 2012 -- and is on the verge of qualifying for the 50-over World Cup from its World Cricket League Championship group.
Nepal, which recently won the World Cricket League Division 3, is also aiming to secure World Cup qualification.
"We have a good opportunity to beat Afghanistan. We know they are a strong side. They are on the verge of qualifying for the World Cup. We are also moving ahead to get ODI status and qualify for the World Cup. In this scenario, we have to utilize this opportunity," said Nepali skipper Paras Khadka.
Nepal is set to face India, Pakistan and Afghanistan during the group stage of the tournament, which will feature the U-23 teams of Asian Test-playing nations and the national teams of other countries.
Nepal had toured Sri Lanka for 14 days ahead of the ACC Emerging Teams Cup. Nepal had lost all four practice matches against the Sri Lanka U-23 team before defeating the North Eastern Province team in the final match of the tour.
"We had a good training in Sri Lanka though results were not that good. All the players got good exposure. We are prepared for the tournament," said Khadka.
Earlier, there were reports that Khadka and all-rounder Pradeep Airee had injury worries. However, Khadka claimed that both of them are available for the match against Afghanistan.
"I´m 90 percent fit. I can throw balls while fielding but there is less chance of me bowling. However, I will bowl if the situation so demands. Pradeep is also available for tomorrow [Friday]´s match," Khadka told Republica over telephone on Friday. "We´ll decide the playing XI tomorrow morning after pitch inspection," he added.
Nepal is scheduled to take on India U-23 on Tuesday and Pakistan U-23 on Wednesday.
The top three teams of the ACC Trophy Elite Cup held in October 2012 were given chance to compete in the event. Nepal and the UAE had finished joint winners of the tournament following a tie in the final. Afghanistan had finished third.
Singapore secured berth as the host of the tournament, which is being organized for the first time by ACC.
Related story
Nepal fancies win against struggling Afghanistan to keep qualif...
