CAN announces squad to play U-19 Asia Cup

KATHMANDU: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced a 14-member squad to play in the 2023 ACC Men’s U-19 Asia Cup.

Head Coach Jagat Tamata has added three new faces to the team that played in the World Cup Qualifier and the ASS Premier Cup. Senior team’s all-rounder Gulshan Jha, as well as spinner Tilak Raj Bhandari and right-handed batsman Bipin Rawal, have been included in the team in place of Milan Bohora, Deepak Bohora, and Durgesh Gupta.

Captain Dev Khanal will continue to lead the side despite Jha’s return to the team.

UAE is hosting the U-19 Men’s Asia Cup in Dubai from December 8 to 17. The event was initially scheduled to be held in Pakistan.

Nepal is placed in Group ‘A’, which also includes Afghanistan, India, and Pakistan. Similarly, Group ‘D’ consists of Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Japan, and UAE. The top two teams from each group will qualify for the semifinal. Both semifinals will be played on December 15, while the final will be played on December 17.

Nepal will play its first match against Pakistan on December 8 before meeting Afghanistan on December 10, and India on December 12.

Nepal Squad:

Dev Khanal (Captain), Arjun Kumal, Aakash Tripath, Dipak Prasad Dumre, Hemant Dhami, Gulshan Kumar Jha, Dipesh Prasad Kandel, Bishal Bikram KC, Subhash Bhandari, Deepak Bohara, Uttam Rangu Thapa Magar, Bipin Rawal, Tilak Raj Bhandari, Akash Chand.