Nepali Squad Farewell for ACC Premier Cup, Trust Placed in Sandeep

Kathmandu — The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has given a farewell to the Nepali National Cricket Team departing for Malaysia to participate in the ACC Men’s Premier Cup. The Nepali team, led by captain Sandeep Lamichhane, will head to India on Friday to train for 10 days before departing directly from India to Malaysia.

During the farewell ceremony, Captain Sandeep Lamichhane stated that the team is going to Malaysia with the goal of winning the ACC Premier Cup. He mentioned that the 10-day preparation camp in India will be crucial for identifying and rectifying the mistakes made in recent matches. He explained that after returning from the Netherlands, the team needed time to reflect on their performance, and the camp organized in Bangalore would allow them to address where they fell short. He added that practicing in India would offer conditions similar to Malaysia, helping them refine their game to bring the trophy home.

Similarly, CAN Secretary and former national cricketer Paras Khadka acknowledged the various questions raised regarding the new squad and the change in captaincy. However, he emphasized that cricket is a team sport where every player's role is equally vital. He formally introduced Sandeep Lamichhane as the leader of the men’s ODI format and praised the players for their recent strong performances.

Khadka emphasized that Nepal must win the ACC Premier Cup to qualify for the Asia Cup and that all stakeholders need to work together toward this objective. While acknowledging that the national team has achieved historical milestones over the past five to six years alongside some performance drops, he reiterated CAN’s commitment to supporting the players. He credited the National Sports Council, Ministry of Youth and Sports, the Government of Nepal, sponsors, and other stakeholders for their continuous support in developing Nepali cricket.

Prior to the farewell, CAN had announced a 14-member Nepali national cricket squad under the leadership of leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane. The full squad selected for the tournament includes Sandeep Lamichhane as captain, alongside Asif Sheikh, Arjun Kumal, Rohit Paudel, Dev Khanal, Dipendra Singh Airee, Basir Ahamad, Ishan Pandey, Gulsan Jha, Sher Malla, Lalit Rajbanshi, Karan KC, Hemant Dhami, and Sandeep Jora.