KATHMANDU: Nepal has participated in seven out of the 14 editions of the Under-19 Cricket World Cup organized so far. A place in the quarterfinals is Nepal’s biggest achievement in the tournament so far. In 2016, Nepal made it to the quarterfinals but was defeated by the hosts Bangladesh.
Nepal has not been selected for the tournament since 2016. Nepal was close to qualifying for the event last year but was unlucky due to rainfall in Malaysia.
In its second game of the Asian qualifying, Nepal was defeated by UAE by one run under the D/L system. Nepal, which had won the remaining four games, finished second in the table, while UAE got selected.
Most of the players from that squad are now with the senior side. Rohit Poudel, who captained the U-19 side, is now leading the senior side. Players like Sandeep Jora, Kushal Malla, and Aasif Sheikh are playing regularly for the senior side.
The U-19 World Cup qualifier is being held in UAE. Dev Khanal is captaining the young Nepali side. Khanal was entrusted with the captaincy as Gulshan Jaha will remain with the senior side for the ICC WCL-2 matches. Jagat Tamata will continue as the head coach.
Both Captain Khanal and Head Coach Tamata have expressed hope that Nepal will qualify for the World Cup.
“Our team is balanced. The team has been formed by holding selection matches at the province and district levels. We have spent nearly two months in the closed camp,” Head Coach Tamata said. “The team also played a practice match with the senior side. They played very well,” Tamata, who took Nepal to the quarterfinal in 2016, said.
Tamata said the team would miss Gulshan Jha. “But it doesn’t mean that his exclusion has weakened the side,” he added.
Nepal will have to play against hosts UAE, as well as Malaysia, Kuwait, Singapore, and Hong Kong in the qualifier.
“Since our target is to qualify for the World Cup, every match is important for us,” Tamata said at a farewell program organized at the National Sports Council on Wednesday.
Captain Khanal said they were confident of qualifying for the World Cup. “We have prepared well. Our confidence is high. As the captain and senior-most player in the team, the biggest responsibility will be with me,” added Khanal.
Khanal, who has played for the senior side, wants to make a comeback to the senior side through a strong performance in the World Cup qualifier.
Although we will miss Gulshan Jha, other players have stepped in, he added.
“Our coach is the lucky charm for us. As he has a long experience, we are hopeful of getting the expected results,” he added.
The path to the U-19 World Cup
Altogether, 16 teams are participating in the U-19 World Cup 2024. Eleven teams, including the hosts Sri Lanka, have already qualified for the event.
The qualifiers being played will fill up the five remaining slots.
Nigeria, Kenya, and Sierra Leone have qualified for the regional qualifier from Division 2 Africa. Similarly, Hong Kong and Singapore have qualified from Asia, while Guernsey, Italy, and Norway have qualified from Europe.
Regional qualifiers will now be held in the Americas, Africa, Asia, Europe, and East Asia. Selection of the Americas region will be held in Canada from August 11 to 17 where Argentina, Bermuda, Suriname, and the US will contest with hosts Canada. Similarly, Kenya, Namibia, Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Uganda, and Tanzania will participate in the African selection to be hosted by Tanzania from July 23 to 29.
In the Asian qualifier, Nepal will play against Singapore, Malaysia, Kuwait, Hong Kong, and hosts UAE from February 24 to March 2. The European qualifier will be held in the Netherlands from August 6 to 12. Guernsey, Italy, Jersey, Norway, Scotland and hosts the Netherlands will also play in the European qualifiers. Likewise, Fiji, Indonesia, Japan, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Vanuatu will play in the East Asian qualifier, which will be hosted by Australia from June 12 to 21.
One team each will be selected for the World Cup from these regional qualifiers. Afghanistan, Australia, Bangladesh, England, India, Ireland, Pakistan, South Africa, Sri Lanka, West Indies, and Zimbabwe have already been selected for the World Cup based on their performance in the previous edition.
Nepal in U-19 World Cup
1988 – Didn’t qualify
1998 – Didn’t qualify
2000 – Made it to Super League
2002 – 3rd in the group, Second in the plate championship
2004 – 3rd in the group, Third in the plate championship
2006 – 3rd in Group, First in plate championship by defeating New Zealand
2008 – 3rd in Group, Second in plate championship
2010 – Didn’t qualify
2014 – Didn’t qualify
2016 – Defeated by Bangladesh in the quarterfinal
2018 – Didn’t qualify
2020 – Didn’t qualify
2022 – Didn’t qualify
Nepal’s matches in Asian qualifier
Against Singapore – February 24
Against Kuwait – February 25
Against Hong Kong – February 27
Against Malaysia – February 28
Against UAE – March 2
