Himal Press 
KATHMANDU: The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has announced an 18-member squad for a tri-series with the UAE and Hong Kong.
Spinner Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, who picked up an injury during training while preparing for the 19th Asian Games, has returned to the national team. Lokesh Bam, who last played for Nepal in a T20 international against Papua New Guinea in March last year, has also been selected. Leg-spinner Mausam Dhakal has also been included in the 18-member squad after star leg-spinner Sandeep Lamichhane ruled himself out of selection citing personal reasons.
Nepal will play against the UAE on October 18 and October 23 and against Hong Kong on October 19 and October 21. Similarly, the UAE and Hong Kong will face each other on October 22 and October 25. All league-round matches will be played at Mulpani International Cricket Stadium.
The top two teams will enter the final to be played at TU International Cricket Ground on October 27.
Nepal is hosting the tri-series to prepare for the 2023 Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Regional Final, to be held in Kathmandu from October 30 to November 5. The regional final will feature eight teams – Bahrain, Hong Kong, Kuwait, Malaysia, Nepal, Oman, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
The two finalists of the 2023 Men’s T20 World Cup Asia Regional Final will qualify for the 2024 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, to be hosted jointly by the US and West Indies from June 4 to June 30, 2024.
Nepal Squad: Rohit Poudel (Captain), Asif Sheikh, Kushal Bhurtel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Sandeep Jora, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Pratish GC, Lalit Narayan Rajbanshi, Abhinash Bohora, Bivek Yadav, Sagar Dhakal, Binod Bhandari, Lokesh Bam, Surya Tamang, and Shyam (Mausam) Dhakal.
