Nepal to play practice matches in Pakistan ahead of Asia Cup

KATHMANDU: Nepal will play practice matches in Karachi before heading to Multan for its opening fixture against Pakistan in the ACC Asia Cup.

According to the Pakistani news portal Samaa, the Nepali national team will reach Pakistan on August 22, about a week earlier than the previous schedule of August 27 for the Asia Cup.

“Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) informed Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) that the Nepali team wanted to arrive early and requested the latter to arrange practice matches in Pakistan,” the news portal wrote.

As per CAN’s request, PCB has arranged practice matches for the Nepali cricket team in Karachi from August 22 to 26. The Nepali team will then leave for Multan on August 27 where they will play against Pakistan on August 30.

Nepal will meet India in the second match of Asia Cup in Sri Lanka on September 4.

Pakistan squad for Asia Cup:
Babar Azam (c), Fakhar, M Rizwan, Shadab Khan, Abdullah Shafique, Faheem Ashraf, Haris Rauf, Iftikhar Ahmed, Imam Ul Haq, M Haris, M Wasim Jr, Saud Shakeel (picked only for Afghanistan series), Naseem Shah, Agha Salman, Shaheen Afridi, Tayyab Tahir, Usama Mir