16 June, America. Nepal’s goal is to reach the Super-8 in the ICC T-20 World Cup 2024, which will begin on Saturday in America and the West Indies. Nepal is in Group D with South Africa, Netherlands, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka.
The top two teams will make it to the Super-8. The Netherlands is at the top of the associate countries, while the other three countries are Test accredited. According to the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings, Nepal is the weakest team in this group.
But T-20 cricket has nothing to do with it. One ball or an over can change the whole scenario of a game. The hope of Nepal is the same. It should not be surprising if Nepal reaches the Super-8 with a brilliant performance and loses all four matches.
Nepal will start the World Cup on June 4 against the Netherlands at the Grand Prairie View Stadium in Dallas. Nepal is hoping to beat the Netherlands and Bangladesh to reach the Super-8. If you win two games, there is a higher chance of being in the top two in the netrunrate.
Last February, in the ICC World Cup League-2 triangular ODI series, Netherlands and Nepal won one match and lost one match. In the triangular T-20I series, the Netherlands won two of the three matches, including the final.
The target of 185 runs given by Nepal in the final of the T-20 series was completed by the Netherlands losing 6 wickets in 19.3 overs. Netherlands defeated South Africa in ICC T20 World Cup 2022 and ODI World Cup 2023.
With more players playing in the country and foreign franchise leagues, the Netherlands has been shocking the big teams. The players of the Netherlands also have a habit of playing under pressure.
“If you can win at the start of any competition, that rhythm will be maintained in the next matches. You can get more morale to win the next game. Both Nepal and Netherlands are well aware of each other’s weaknesses and strengths. Therefore, by playing our best cricket, we can beat the Netherlands”, said analyst Ravi Timilsina.
It is both an opportunity and a challenge for Nepal to play its first match against the Netherlands in the World Cup. Because if he wins, he will be able to play with other teams with high morale. If defeated, the morale may become weak.
“Our main objective in the World Cup is to win the first game against the Netherlands. We want to carry the moments with a win in the first match. According to which USA beat Bangladesh in two matches in three T20I series this week. We are very likely to reach the Super-8. “The first goal is to beat the Netherlands and then take the moments,” said captain Rohit Paudel.
In the second match of the triangular T20I series, Nepal defeated the Netherlands by 6 wickets. Netherlands were bowled out for 120 after left-arm fast bowler Pratish Jeeee took 3 wickets.
A total of 12 matches have been played between Nepal and Netherlands in T20I. Nepal has won 5 and lost 6. Out of the 5 that Nepal has won, 3 were at the home Trivi Cricket Ground Kirtipur, one in Oman in 2019 and one in the Netherlands in 2015. Out of 5 ODI matches, Nepal has won 2 matches.
We won the match last February when Pratish bowled well. What will happen to our playing XI this time is worth watching. As in the debut series, Kushal (Bhurtel), Asif (Sikh) need to get off to a good start against the Netherlands’, said Ravi.
In April 2021, Asif and Kushal scored half-centuries in their debut match against the Netherlands at the Trivi Cricket Ground. Asif and Kushal’s performance in recent times is not memorable. But Nepal has continued to trust them.
Anil Shah is the backup opener in the World Cup. He is trying to prove himself at number three. In the World Cup, Asif and Kushal have no choice but to give a good start in the opening.
Nepal has already played three T-20 practice matches in St. Vincent of West Indies and two in Houston, America, two weeks ago to prepare for the World Cup.
Nepal has dreamed of Super-8. But Nepal’s batting performance outside the home ground is already bad. He has batted well only in very few matches against teams of his level.
Nepal was bowled out for 120 runs while chasing the target of 184 runs given by Canada at the Grand Perry Stadium where they will play the World Cup against the Netherlands on Tuesday. Last April, Nepal scored 119 runs against UAE and lost by 6 wickets in the semi-final of ACC Premier Cup at Al Amret Ground in Oman.
When asked why Nepali batsmen can’t perform well outside the UT cricket ground, Rohit says, ‘It’s difficult for everyone in foreign lands.
It will be difficult for England’s batsmen to come to India. Indian batsmen go to South Africa and have a tough experience. It is challenging to get wet in other conditions. But after becoming a player, it is very necessary to present oneself according to the conditions even in foreign roles.’
All 15 players in the T20 World Cup have been playing together continuously. In the last year and a half, Nepal has not changed more than one or two players in its team. All players understand each other’s game. This will increase the players’ confidence in the game.
‘We have been in the same team for two or three years. All of them have been playing with us since the U-19 level. The combination and bonding is very good. That is an advantage for us. The biggest benefit of playing together is unity’, said Rohit.
It will be nothing to lose Nepal when it is weak on paper in Group D. The remaining three teams will be afraid of losing. Therefore, Nepal will play without pressure.
T-20 is a game that can change in two overs. Nepal is now in the best moments. By continuing this we can defeat anyone. Leave the paper and go to the moments. We will work on how to get success and how to win every ball. Hopefully we will do well in the World Cup”, said bowler Sompal Kami.
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