Sports
Nepal play Malaysia today
Nepal take on hosts Malaysia in the second match of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier Asia (Eastern Region) as the team looks to continue its winning momentum in Kuala Lumpur on SaturdayNepal take on hosts Malaysia in the second match of the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier Asia (Eastern Region) as the team looks to continue its winning momentum in Kuala Lumpur on Saturday.
In a tournament that sends the top three teams to the second round—Asia Region Qualifier—of the continent’s preliminary stage of qualification for the 2020 ICC World Twenty20, Nepal had started their campaign on a high crushing minnows Myanmar by eight wickets.
Malaysia and Singapore both currently play in the Division 4 of ICC’s World Cricket League tournament for non-Test playing teams. Both the Division 4 teams are the only two relatively stronger opponents for Nepal, who will also play Bhutan, China and Thailand. Victory on Saturday would almost certainly mean Nepal‘s chances of rounding up at the Top Three places.
Malaysia had a similar start to their campaign defeating Bhutan by 67 runs but they were forced to share the points after the match against Thailand on Friday was washed out due to rain. They are tied on three points at the top of the table with Thailand, who sit atop the standings on net run-rate. The Malaysians will also be seeking a victory over Nepal supported by home conditions.
Nepal recently played against Malaysia in the ACC Asia Cup Qualifier at their backyard. Although Nepal went on to win that match by 19 runs, both teams will hardly have that result in their minds as it was a 50-over affair. In a Twenty20 fixture that has usually been full of uncertainties between two evenly-placed teams, Nepal and Malaysia both will remain cautious.
Nepal skipper Paras Khadka just wants his side to remain focused on the brand of cricket they have been playing. “Myanmar were way below us but Malaysia could be an opponent who can give us a good challenge. It’s a Twenty20 game and the Malaysians are not the one we will take lightly. We just have to focus on our game and make sure we play better cricket,” Khadka told the Post from Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia had beaten Nepal in the shortest version of the game having beaten the now One Day International nation in the 2009 ACC Twenty20 Cup. In the only three previous meetings between the two teams in Twenty20 format, Nepal have won twice. All three meetings took place in the ACC Twenty20 Cup. This is the first time the two teams are playing each other out of the regional tournament.
Nepal are likely to continue with the new opening pair they tested against Myanmar with returning duo of Pradeep Airee and Binod Bhandari taking the responsibility. They rested ace seamer Sompal Kami, veteran Basanta Regmi and middle order mainstay Sharad Vesawkar against Myanmar and their return might mean a complete reshuffle in the batting order. At the Kinrara Oval that favours spinners, teenaged leg-spin prodigy Sandeep Lamichhane will once again be in the spotlight along with left-arm spinner Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi. A return of Regmi, however, meant Rajbanshi will have to sit out of the match.