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Nepal to make ODI debut against Dutch
Nepal will make their One Day International (ODI) debut with a two-match series against the Netherlands in the first week of August this year.Nepal will make their One Day International (ODI) debut with a two-match series against the Netherlands in the first week of August this year.
Nepal, the latest entrants in the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) ODI club, had been corresponding with the Cricket Netherlands who fixed August 1 and 3 date for what is going to be a historic game for Nepal. ICC has already included the two fixtures in its calendar for the month. In absence of Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN), ICC will continue to facilitate for Nepal’s tour to the Netherlands.
Nepal are scheduled to play against Marylebone Cricket Club and the Netherlands in a one-day triangular T20 series at Lord’s on July 29. The T20 series will be followed by the Nepal’s tour of Netherlands.
Nepal skipper Paras Khadka said the two matches will mark two big days in Nepali cricket. “It will be a milestone, a new beginning of our journey towards the bigger stage,” Paras said on Thursday.
“The two ODIs will be a big challenge because we are going to play at their home turf. We played them in the World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) and Twenty20 series and it was tough. We are eagerly awaiting the moment,” he said.
Nepal earned the ODI status after Paras led the team to an eighth place finish in the ICC World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe in March. Nepal had lost to the Netherlands by 45 runs in the seventh place playoff match having already sealed the ODI status.
It is going to be Nepal’s third Netherlands visit having previously played in a four-match T20 international series as a part of their preparation for the 2016 ICC World Twenty20 Qualifiers. They then visited the Dutch for two away matches of the ICC WCLC. Netherlands had won the WCLC title earning themselves the ODI status.
Netherlands coach Ryan Campbell was exited to host Nepal. We’re delighted to welcome Nepal for their first ODIs, and our first ODI on home soil since 2013. After the honour of being invited to play at Lord’s, we look forward to showing our home fans what we can do,” Campbell was quoted as saying by a leading cricket portal cricbuzz.com.
“Nepal are an exciting team as we’ve all seen from Sandeep Lamichanne during the IPL... It will be a privilege to have the team here. Nepal have always drawn good crowds in Holland, I’m sure it will be a great occasion,” he added.