National cricket team veteran left arm spinner Shakti Gauchan is set to miss Nepal’s ICC World Cricket League Championship away matches against Hong Kong scheduled for October 13 and 14.

Gauchan is suffering from piles and has already withdrawn his name from the preliminary squad. “I have not yet recovered from the disease and have told national team head coach Jagat Tamatta about my unavailability,” said Gauchan. The 33-year old last played for Nepal in the WCLC home matches against Kenya.

Gauchan has so far played nine out of 10 WCLC matches picking up five wickets. He was among the 25 players called up for the closed-camp that is set to begin from Monday. Gauchan had also suffered from typhoid three months ago and suffered from piles then after. “Its not that I am completely unfit but Hong Kong is an important tour for us and didn’t want to take risk,” said Gauchan.

Nepal (eight points) are at the sixth spot of the eight-team WCLC from where the top four teams following the two-leg round robin league will make it to the 2018 50-over World Cup Qualifiers.

Nepal are under pressure to win both their remaining two matches – against Hong Kong and UAE – two stay alive in the hunt for Qualifiers. Nepal have 10 points from 10 matches, while the Netherlands lead the table with 16 points followed by Papua New Guinea (14) and Scotland (13).