Kathmandu – With a creditable showing at the World T20 and Nepal’s recent T20 international status, Nepali team must be high in confidence specially against a team like Kuwait-from World Cricket League Division 7. Nepal will play against Kuwait tomorrow at 10:45 am (NST) at Incheon in the 2nd game of the Asian Games Men’s Cricket Competition.
But Kuwait isn’t that weak as World Cricket League suggests, Kuwait defeated Nepal in ACC Elite Cup 2012/13 in UAE chasing a target of 280 in 50 overs. Even the century by Nepal’s captain Paras Khadka was in vain. Though the squad of Kuwait don’t have any of those who played that match against Nepal, this is the team with lots of potential especially when it comes to T20s.
Squad: (Abdulrahman Dashti, E Aldhabyan, Ali Bushahri, Ali Zainal, Alkandari Abdulrahman, Alkandari Mohammad, Alnadi Faleh, Alotaibi Mohammed, Alqallaf Mohammad, Bastaki Abdullah*†, Bastaki Fahad, Bastaki Mahmoud, Beidas Tareq, Eissa Jassim, Salem Mishar)
Though Nepal are strong in the paper, they must look to start up positively as it has been almost 4 months since they played their last international match against Afghanistan. Jitendra Mukhiya- last overs specialist makes his comeback after World T20, also U19 Triumphs- Bhuwan Karki and Ramnaresh Giri will been keen to get in the field with the Nepali jersey in.
Squad (P Airee, M Alam, B Bhandari, NB Budayair, SP Gauchan, R Giri, B Karki, P Khadka, SP Khakurel, G Malla, JK Mukhiya, B Regmi, Sagar Pun*†, Sompal Kami, S Vesawkar)
The condition at Incheon is dry and flat helping the spinners, and as it will be the 2nd game in this ground- batting first will be a good choice winning the toss.
Face to face:
The encounters between these teams had been the last ball finish. They have met twice- in ACC T20 Cup in 2009 and 2011, both epic battle- won by Nepal.
In 2009, Kuwait batted first and made 123, in reply Nepal fished at exactly 123 and the match was tied. Eventually Nepal won the match in bowl-out by 3-2.
In 2011, Nepal made 126-6 batting after first after they were put on to bat, Kuwait was all-out for 125 in reply and Nepal won the frenetic battle by just a run after P Baskota picked up last Kuwait wicket in the second-last ball of their inning.
Players To watch-out for:
Sompal Kami- ACC Premier League’s best bowler is ranked top among the non-test playing nation’s bowlers. He bowls 140+ and gets the ball to nipp back into the right handers. He isn’t a big swinger but can swing it both ways, also can bowl golden yorkers in the death overs. His this quality makes him A Player to Watch out for.
