The Under-19 batsman Dipendra Singh Airee broke into the senior national team as Nepal announced a 14-member squad for the ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) matches against Kenya on March 11 and 13.

Another U-19 batsman Sunil Dhamala was also retained as the opener is set to break into the playing XI on home turf. The Selection committee headed by Venkatapathy Raju (Cricket Development Officer, ICC-Asia) and which also includes Jagat Tamatta (Head Coach) & Nepal skipper Paras Khadka announced to squad for the fifth round WCLC matches to be held at the TU Stadium. 

The WCLC is the gateway to 2019 50-over World Cup qualifiers. Khadka retained his place despite currently recuperating from a abdominal surgery last month. Khadka also missed the team’s 

Noida tour in order to recover from the surgery. Dhamala, who was an unused member of Nepali squad which lost both the away games against the Netherlands in August last year, is set to get opening responsibility. Veteran allrounder Mehboob Alam and Dhamala’s U-19 team member Aarif Sheikh also earned recall for the Kenya double header. 

Alam last represented Nepal during the second round matches of the same event against Papua New Guinea (PNG) in November 2015. PNG had won both the games played at neutral venue in Abu Dhabi. Batsman Aarif also made a comeback to the national team since last representing his country against Namibia during the World Cricket League Div 2 match in 2015. Alam, Aarif and Dipendra Airee replaced Raju Rijal, Rajesh Pulami, Anil Mandal and Bikram Sob from the squad that took on the Netherlands in August last year. Rajesh Pulami Magar, Avinash Karn, Bhuwan Karki and Dilip Nath were named as reserves.

Nepal are in the sixth place of the eight-team WCLC with six points from eight matches. Top four teams after the home and away round robin league will automatically secure spots in next year’s World Cup Qualifiers. 

The Netherlands lead the standings with 16 points from 10 games after five rounds. Papua New Guinea are second with 12 points. Hong Kong (11), Scotland (11), Kenya (eight) are next in the order. Behind Nepal are Namibia (two) and the UAE (2). 

Nepal will play Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates after Kenya fixtures with 

the team needing to record wins in all matches to have any chance of reaching the World Cup Qualifiers.

Nepal Squad

Paras Khadka (captain), Gyanendra Malla (vice-captain), Sharad Vesawkar, Shakti Prasad Gauchan, Basant Regmi, Sompal Kami, Sagar Pun, Binod Bhandari, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Mahaboob Alam, Md 

Arif Sheikh, Sunil Dhamala, Dipendra Singh Airee