Cricket Association postpones closed training

KATHMANDU: Closed training of Nepali cricket team has been postponed.

According to the Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), the closed training has been postponed due to the suspension of the tri-nation one-day series between Nepal, Scotland and Namibia in the World Cup League-2 scheduled to be held in Spain next month due to Covid 19.

The closed training had started from Tuesday. Nineteen players were involved in the training. CAN has stated that the general training will continue even if the closed training is postponed. Head coach Dave Whatmore had recently come to Nepal from Sri Lanka to train the players.

Gyanendra Malla, Kushal Bhurtel, Arif Sheikh, Paras Khadka, Dipendra Singh Airee, Ashif Sheikh, Kushal Malla, Binod Bhandari, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Sompal Kami, Kamal Singh Airee, Abinash Bohra, Sandeep Jora, Shahab Alam, Shushan Bhari, Sharad Bheswakar, Bikram Shob and Pawan Sarraf were included for the closed training.

Nepal played its first series against the United States and Oman at the Tribhuvan International Cricket Ground, Kirtipur. The ICC Cricket World Cup League-2 is a stepping stone to World Cup.

Along with Nepal, the United States, Oman, Scotland, Namibia, UAE and Papua New Guinea are in League Two. The league started in August 2019.

The top three teams in the league will make it straight to the World Cup cricket selection. The remaining four teams will play in the playoffs again to qualify for the World Cup.

Four teams from League 2 and two teams from Challenge League will compete in the playoffs. In the World Cup qualifiers, 10 teams including five from the bottom of the Super League, three from the league and two from the playoffs will compete.

The winners and runners-up of the World Cup qualifiers will be able to participate in the Cricket World Cup.
–––