Team Nepal has lost the toss and will be bowling first against Pakistan in the Asia Cup 2023 opener.
Pakistan’s skipper Babar won the toss against Rohit Paudel and elected to field first at Multan International Cricket Stadium.
Nepal is playing against Pakistan for the very first time. Interestingly, this match will also serve as Nepal’s inaugural appearance in Pakistan’s cricketing landscape.
Team Nepal has played an ODI match against only three Test-playing nations; hence, Pakistan is their fourth opponent in this category.
Nepal has left out top order batter, Bhim Sharki from the XI and opted to include Aarif Sheikh in the lineup.
Nepal’s playing XI: Kushal Bhurtel, Aasif Sheikh, Aarif Sheikh, Rohit Paudel, Kushal Malla, Dipendra Singh Airee, Gulshan Jha, Sompal Kami, Karan KC, Sandeep Lamichhane, Lalit Rajbanshi.
Pakistan’s playing XI: Fakhar Zaman, Imam ul-Haq, Babar Azam (c), Mohammad Rizwan (wk), Iftikhar Ahmed, Salman Ali Agha, Shadab Khan, Mohammad Nawaz, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, Naseem Shah.
