The national cricket team embarked on a journey to their historic tour of Europe where the team will play its maiden One-Day International (ODI) series and boast as Associate side returning to the iconic Lord’s cricket ground.

After becoming an ODI nation following an eighth-place finish in the ICC Cricket World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe this year, Nepal can now rub shoulders against the giants in world cricket through 50-over cricket. Although Nepal will begin their Europe tour with matches against Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC) and the Dutch in a one-day Triangular Twenty20 at the Lord’s on July 29, the team will anxiously wait for the two-match ODI series scheduled for August 1 and 3 in the Netherlands.

Nepal are making their return to the Lord’s—often called the Mecca of Cricket—after playing against the MCC two years ago in a match that marked the 200-year relationship between Nepal and the United Kingdom. The MCC squad this time is comparatively stronger and the clash against Dutch has been given a T20 International status.

There is every reason for the team to cherish their second visit to the Lord’s but skipper Paras Khadka wants to place the two ODIs against the Dutch as important. “Its been three months since we earned the ODI status. And it feels really great to be back on the field with international cricket,” Paras said ahead of the team’s departure to England.

“Obviously, playing at Lord’s is a dream for every team and we are lucky to be there for the second time. But the most important thing is the ODIs (against the Dutch). Anyone following Nepali cricket had always wanted to see us playing the ODIs and we are finally there. So we are happy and excited and hope we can sign off the dream campaign on winning note,” added the skipper.

The Dutch had last hosted Nepal two years ago in a World Cricket League Championship (WCLC) matches with both recorded as List A games. Ever since both the teams have gained the ODI status and Paras wanted his side not to get over-excited by the newly-earned elite status.

“We had beaten them (Netherlands) in one of the two games in WCLC at their own ground,” added Paras. “I hope to go one better this time. But at the same time we would like to remain calm. We look forward to more ODIs in coming days. So we will try to play as normal as possible in our first ODI series on August 1 and 3.”

Coach Jagat Tamatta, a member of the Nepali team that played first ever international cricket in the 1996 ACC Trophy, wants to take the tour as another beginning. “We are very excited because we have made a long journey to make it here. This is just the start which will help us in evaluating how we need to take our status as an ODI nation for the next four years,” said Tamatta. Before the Triangular Twenty20 tournament at the Lord’s, Nepal will warm up for the tour with four practice matches—two of them 50-over games and two Twenty20s.

The return of Subash Khakurel is the only change for Nepal from the squad that played two important tournaments in World Cricket League Division 2 in Namibia and the World Cup Qualifiers in Zimbabwe. Paras believed the return of Subash might help the team in finding the best opening combination which has continuously flopped for a lengthy period.

“He (Subash) has left the injuries behind him. Subash has played really good cricket in some of the crucial tournaments for us. I hope he can justify his selection. Its been a challenge for us to get the best combination in the top order. The youngsters have in fact pushed the seniors in past two tournaments and we hope everything goes in right direction for us,” said Paras.