Team Nepal is taking on the West Indies in their third match of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2023 on Thursday. The match set to be played at Harare Sports Club is Nepal’s first-ever ODI match against the former World Cup Champions.
In addition, Thursday’s match will mark Nepal’s second ODI match against a Test-playing nation. Previously, Nepal faced Zimbabwe in the tournament opener, marking their maiden ODI encounter against a team with Test status.
West Indies clinched the title of the inaugural Cricket World Cup 1975. They defended the title in 1979, bagging the second World Cup trophy. However, The men in Maroon are yet to win the 50-over World Cup, as the first three editions were 60-over matches. Meanwhile, West Indies is the most successful side in the T20 Word Cup, alongside England, with two titles. They were the winners of 2012 and 2016’s edition.
Due to their ninth-place finish in the World Cup Super League, the two-time world champions were obliged to participate in the Qualifying tournament. The top eight nations secured direct qualification for the mega event.
West Indies’ second opponent in the tournament is Nepal, after registering a 39-run victory against the USA in the first match.
Meanwhile, Nepal started the tournament with an eight-wicket defeat against the host Zimbabwe. They bounced back well and hammered the USA to secure their first two points.
Nepal will look to stun the West Indies and book a maiden win against Test-nation. They will do everything in their power to create history. Windies, on the other hand, wants no disappointment and look to solidify their super-six road.
Since gaining ODI status after the end of the Cricket World Cup Qualifier 2018 in Zimbabwe itself, Nepal has played 53 ODI matches – won 29 games, suffered 22 defeats, experienced one tie, and had one match abandoned due to rain.
Nepal’s list of ODI matches played so far:
vs UAE – 14
vs PNG – 10
vs Oman – 7
vs USA – 7
vs Namibia – 6
vs Scotland – 6
vs Netherlands – 2
vs Zimbabwe – 1
