The Cricket Association of Nepal (CAN) has confirmed that the Netherlands and Malaysia will tour the country for a T20I tri-series between April 17 and April 24 this year.
Nepal, Netherlands, and Malaysia will compete for the Bajaj Pulsar Tri-Nations T20I Series. Each team plays the other twice before the final. All the matches will be played at Tribhuvan University Ground in Kathmandu.
The CAN today confirmed the tri-nations series via a press release on its social media site.
Nepal’s last T20I was against Singapore on March 6, last year, in the ACC Eastern Region T20. Although, the match was abandoned without a ball bowled.
Nepal currently sits in the 15th spot in the ICC’s T2OI team rankings on 4,148 points, with the Netherlands 17th on 4,618 points. Malaysia is sitting at the 32nd position with 2,557 points.
Nepal last played against the Netherlands on October 7, 2019, in the Oman Pentagular T20I Series. They defeated the Dutch side by four wickets.
Likewise, Nepal last played Malaysia in the ACC Eastern Region T20 and gotthrashed by 22 runs. Malaysia posted 154/6 in 20 overs and Nepal could only manage 132 in 19.5 overs.
In Twenty20 Internationals, Nepal has played four matches against Malaysia and won three of them whereas, against the Netherlands, they have played six matches, won two and lost three, and one match had no result.
“I would like to thank both Netherlands Cricket and Malaysia Cricket for working closely in a very short duration to get this series happening. We are delighted to announce the return of International Cricket in Nepal,” Chatur Bahadur Chand, CAN President said.
“After not playing since November 2019, I am overjoyed at the announcement of the Tri-series in Nepal. The boys have worked so hard for over a year with so much uncertainty on when our next match will be. Playing Nepal and Malaysia in Nepal will present us with an extremely tough re-entry into World Cricket but it’s a challenge we are very much looking forward to,” Ryan Campbell, National Coach of Netherlands said.
Similarly, Mahinda Vallipuram, the president of Malaysia Cricket expressed the excitement of playing International Cricket after a year-long drought.
“It is indeed very pleasing to see the revival of International cricket, after a year-long drought in international tournaments. This International series between Nepal, Netherlands, and Malaysia is, therefore, a morale booster for our national team,” Vallipuram said.
