Kathmandu-
Nepal’s coach Pubudu Dassanayeke has revealed that Nepal prepare in UAE for ICC World T20 Qualifiers. Nepali news daily Republica reports Dassanayake revealing that ICC had prepared a special training package for all six Associates that qualified for the T20 World Cup. According to the story published on 1st February, Nepal will be part of 8 day training program in UAE starting March 1st. ICC however hasn’t yet revealed any such plans.
Nepal qualified for the T20 World Cup finishing third on the ICC T20 Qualifiers held in UAE from November 15-November 30. Ireland(winners), Afghanistan(runners-up), UAE, Hong Kong and Netherland are the remaining 5 associates that made it to the T20 World Cup.
Although ICC hasn’t reveled any such plans-it has a history of organizing such training camps for the the Associates right before the world cup. The Associate Qualifiers-Ireland, Netherland, Canada and Kenya prepared in ICC Academy Dubai right before the 2011 Cricket World Cup.
The T20 World Cup 2014, is scheduled to start on 16th March. Dassanyake also revealed that Nepal would leave for Bangladesh on 10th March for the World Cup. Nepal placed in Group A in the Round I of ICC World Cup- takes on Hong Kong on 16th March in its opening match. Nepal then has matches scheduled against host-Bangladesh (18th March) and Afghanistan (20th March). Round I of the World Cup consists of 8 teams ( 6 Qualifiers+ Zimbabwe and Bangladesh) divided in into two groups of 4. The leader from each group will enter the round 2 of the world cup consisting of the top 8 associate sides and known as the “Super Ten” stage.
“ICC will provide everything for the training camp including nets, ground and ProBatter,” Republica quotes Dassanayake. “As we will be playing our World T20 matches against Hong Kong and Bangladesh under floodlights, we have requested the ICC to arrange some practice matches under floodlights for us.”
The ProBatter PX2 used in Dubai is basically an advanced bowling machine that has ability of throwing wide range of variation with the ball. Accroding to the manufactures Batsman can choose from a wide variety of different, fully programmable deliveries for Pace Bowlers, Wrist Spin Bowlers and Finger Spin Bowlers including, among others, swinging, bouncers, Good Length, Half Volley, Leg Spin, Off Spin and the Doosra.
According to the story Nepal will likely play practice matches with associates from other groups-Ireland, Netherland and UAE.
The Cricket Association of Nepal has named 30-men preliminary squad for the T20 World Cup. The final 15 member squad will likely be announced on February 10
