Prime Minister Cup performers Saurav Khanal and Hashim Ansari were the notable omissions as the 18-member squad was named on Wednesday for Nepal’s ICC World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) away matches against Hong Kong.

Nepal are scheduled to play against Hong Kong on October 13 and 15 in crucial ties that could determine the country’s fate for the 2018 ICC 50-over Cricket World Cup Qualifiers. Nepal are currently in sixth spot with eight points in the eight-team tournament and now must win their remaining fixtures to stay alive for the Qualifiers. Only the top four teams will make it to the Qualifiers.

Khanal, who was named the best batsman of the PM Cup One Day National cricket tournament, was axed from the 25-member preliminary squad that was undergoing closed-camp for the Hong Kong matches. Khanal has been in sublime form in domestic cricket of late and had amassed 270 runs from four matches with three half centuries—two of them unbeaten—while playing for Western Region.

Ansari had struck a century against Nepal Armed Police Force Club but couldn’t show much after his team Central Region crashed out of the league stage of the PM Cup. National team head coach Jagat Tamatta, who also heads the Independent Selection Committee alongside skipper Paras Khadka, said the duo could not impress during the closed-camp.

“The PM Cup and the closed-camp were different affair. We had expected them to carry on their form but it didn’t happen,” said Tamatta adding the squad will now go further training in Chennai, India to come up with the final squad.

“We are planning a preparation camp in Chennai and if everything goes as planned all the 18-member squad will go for further training before a final squad is named,” added the coach. Emerging allrounder Kushal Bhurtel, left-arm spinner Sushil Kandel and left -arm seamer Lalit Singh Bhandari have made the cut for final 18 for the first time in the squad that also sees the return of fast bowling allrounder Karan KC, right-arm seamer Jitendra Mukhiya and opening batsman Naresh Budhayer.

Mukhiya, who has been under rest due to his back problem, was impressive during the PM Cup and KC had undergone surgery for appendicitis. Khadka was retained as skipper in the side that also includes Binod Bhandari, Gyanendra Malla, Sharad Vesawkar, Mahaboob Alam, Sompal Kami, Sagar Pun, Sushan Bhari Shrestha, Aarif Sheikh, Dipendra Singh Airee and Sandeep Lamichhane.

Avinash Karn, Bikram Sob, Dilip Nath and Sunil Dhamala were other four cricketers to face the axe. Nepal’s final round matches of the WCLC are against the United Arab Emirates. Netherlands currently lead the WCLC table with 16 points followed by Papua New Guinea (14), Scotland (13) and Hong Kong (11). Kenya are one spot above Nepal with 10 points.