Nepal take first step in their journey towards the 2020 ICC World Twenty20 with a clash against minnows Myanmar in the ICC World Twenty20 Qualifier Asia (Eastern Region) in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on Wednesday.

The seven-team Eastern Region Qualifier is the first hurdle for Nepal, who need to round up inside the Top Three to make it to the second round of selection process in Asia Qualifier. The six-team Asia Qualifier will send Top Two teams to the Global Qualifier from where top six will make it to 2020 World Twenty20 in Australia.

The United Arab Emirates (UAE), Qatar and Kuwait have already secured their places in the Asia Qualifier after finishing Top Three in the Western Region Qualifier. The Eastern Region Qualifier includes hosts Malaysia, Nepal, Singapore, Myanmar, Thailand, China and Bhutan.

Nepal have a peculiar record against Myanmar having beaten them in just two balls during the 2006 ACC Trophy, also in Malaysia. Twelve years after that world record victory, the two teams lock horns yet again at the same venue in what once again could be a mismatch. But Nepal skipper Paras Khadka doesn’t want to discount the opponents.

“It provides opportunities for teams like Myanmar to compete against a comparatively stronger opponents. When we started our cricketing journey, we learned by playing against better opponents. It could be the same experience for them on Wednesday,” Khadka told the Post from Kuala Lumpur.

With only Malaysia and Singapore expected of posing some genuine challenge, a Top Three finish for Nepal appears within their grasp. So the first round of Qualifier will give Nepal an opportunity try out new things out. “This tournament will give us the luxury to try out new combinations in the batting order. So we would like to give a go with a few experiments,” added the Nepali captain.

Nepal left for Malaysia bolstered by recalled batsman Pradeep Airee after three years. Airee had been tried at different positions and the team would like him to open the innings as it is the only area where Nepali batting is struggling to settle for a long time. Apart from Airee, the returning Binod Bhandari is also likely to get and opportunity to prove himself after being ignored for eight months due to poor form. Bhandari was an unused Nepali batsman in the recently concluded Asia Cup Qualifier in Malaysia.

Nepal performed poorly as a fielding unit in their disastrous performance in the Asia Cup in Malaysia where the team finished fourth. The Eastern Region Qualifier will also be an opportunity for cricketers to prove themselves as an organised fielding side with a lethal bowling attack.